Ryan Elijah emerged victorious Tuesday in the Republican primary for Florida’s 7th Congressional District, as a series of controversies sinks incumbent Cory Mills’ attempt at re-election.
Mills, a two-term incumbent, faced Elijah, a former television journalist; businesswoman Sarah Ulrich; and veteran Michael Don Johnson in the GOP primary. With roughly 84% of the vote reported, Elijah led with 46.9% of the vote, followed by Mills with 34.4%, according to preliminary results. Decision Desk HQ called the race at 7:53 p.m. ET.
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
Last November, lawmakers on the House Ethics Committee launched an investigation into Mills over allegations including possible domestic violence and campaign finance violations. The Department of Justice opened a criminal probe into Mills last month in connection with his finances. Mills has denied the allegations and argued that they are politically motivated.
The incumbent also faced significant opposition from within his own party. Reps. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) and Mike Haridopolos (R-FL) endorsed Elijah, while several Florida sheriffs also backed Elijah’s campaign. Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis said last week that he did not support Mills.
Mills nevertheless entered the primary with President Donald Trump’s endorsement, which the president handed to him in February. Trump’s support came despite the controversies surrounding Mills, although the president did not publicly campaign for him in the final days of the primary.
Mills has defended his record in Congress, pointing to his constituent services and high-profile efforts to evacuate Americans from conflict zones including Afghanistan, Israel, and Haiti. His campaign also highlighted more than $100 million in constituent assistance secured through his congressional office.
Elijah campaigned heavily on the allegations against Mills and received endorsements from several prominent Florida Republicans. Johnson, who previously challenged Mills, also made Mills’ controversies a central focus of his campaign, while Ulrich ran as a socially conservative alternative.
Elijah will now face Democratic nominee Bale Dalton in November. Democrats have identified the district as a potential pickup opportunity, although the heavily Republican seat remains expected to favor the GOP.
