U.S. Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) has been defeated in the Republican primary for Florida’s 7th Congressional District by challenger Ryan Elijah, a former local television news anchor. Decision Desk HQ projected Elijah the winner at approximately 7:53 pm Eastern Time, just under an hour after polls closed.
As of the race call, with an estimated 64 percent of the expected vote counted, Elijah led with 18,726 votes, or 43.2 percent. Mills received 16,029 votes, or 37.0 percent. Sarah Ulrich, a businesswoman, had 4,942 votes, or 11.4 percent, and Michael Johnson, a retired Department of Defense program manager and previous primary challenger, had 3,638 votes, or 8.4 percent.
Florida’s 7th District covers all of Seminole County and portions of southern Volusia County. Mills, first elected in 2022, won reelection in 2024 with 56.5 percent of the vote in the general election. The district has leaned Republican in recent cycles, though the race is widely viewed as competitive this midterm cycle.
Decision Desk HQ projects Ryan Elijah wins the Florida US House 7 Republican Primary#DecisionMade: 7:53 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/TvJjVyAgSK
— Decision Desk HQ (@DecisionDeskHQ) August 18, 2026
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Mills received an endorsement from President Donald Trump back in February, with the president describing him at the time as a successful entrepreneur, U.S. Army combat veteran, and Bronze Star recipient who understands the requirements to defend the country and support the military. Mills featured the endorsement prominently on campaign materials. Trump did not include Mills in some subsequent public lists of endorsed candidates in the lead-up to the primary, however.
Despite holding the coveted presidential endorsement, Mills’ campaign was derailed by a number of scandals and investigations. The House Ethics Committee opened an inquiry in late 2024 over claims that companies associated with Mills held or benefited from federal weapons and munitions contracts while he served in Congress, potential omissions or misrepresentations on financial disclosure statements, and possible campaign finance issues involving personal loans or contributions. The committee also reviewed allegations of misconduct related to sexual misconduct or dating violence.
It authorized more than 20 subpoenas and collected thousands of documents, though overall findings had not been publicly released by primary day.
In February 2025, Washington, D.C., police investigated a report from Sarah Raviani, who lived with Mills, alleging assault at a residence. No charges were filed, and Raviani later recanted the claims.
Following public reports of that incident, Lindsey Langston, another former partner who had lived with Mills in Florida, sought and received a no-contact or restraining order in 2025. Langston alleged that Mills threatened to release intimate images and videos and made statements regarding potential harm to future partners. Mills denied the characterizations of the events involving both women.
Mills has denied wrongdoing across the various matters.
Elijah, who worked as a co-anchor and host at WOFL Fox 35 in the Orlando area until earlier in 2026, entered the race in the spring. He received endorsements from fellow Florida Republican Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Mike Haridopolos, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood, state Sen. Tom Wright, and several others.
Elijah raised more funds than Mills in key reporting periods leading into the primary and outspent him in the final months of the primary campaign.
Mills’ loss marks the end of his current tenure in the House, which began in January 2023 after he flipped the seat previously held by Democrat Stephanie Murphy. Prior to Congress, Mills founded companies involved in security and munitions and participated in efforts related to evacuations from Afghanistan.
