Cory Mills called one story after another a political hit job. Trump told him privately to get out. He refused. Florida Republicans dumped him anyway.
Rep. Mike Haridopolos's (FL-08) choice was Ryan Elijah, the former Orlando television anchor. He recruited him quietly. Back in Washington, he started feeling out other Republicans. Mills might survive August, Haridopolos said, but November was another matter.
Florida's 7th sits at roughly R+5. Haridopolos had seen enough state races during his time as Florida Senate president to know an incumbent could still blow that. He expected Republicans would have to spend millions cleaning it up in the fall.
“I knew it was an absolute loser,” Haridopolos said. “We did not want to give away a seat.”
House Republican leaders knew what Haridopolos was doing. He said he told them from the start that the party needed another candidate, and they let him proceed.
Haridopolos told other members of Florida's congressional delegation that he intended to get involved. Only Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13) endorsed Elijah. The rest stayed out while House leadership and the White House continued to publicly support Mills throughout much of the mess.
Read More: Embattled Rep Cory Mills Now Under Federal Investigation, His Challengers Call for Him to Drop Out
Elijah jumped in during April. By then, House Ethics was already looking at allegations against Mills involving sexual misconduct, dating violence and campaign finances. Democrats had the district on their Florida target list. Democratic candidate Bale Dalton reported $464,000 in cash while Mills' campaign was reportedly in debt.
Then came the questions about Mills' military record. In July, a new story landed: the Department of Justice had opened a criminal investigation. The reported subject of that probe was not disclosed.
Mills said there was no confirmation from the Justice Department or the FBI, and that he knew of no investigation. His explanation for the timing was simple: His opponents had dumped it one month before the primary.
"This appears to be a desperate lie from my political opponents," Mills said. "I have nothing to hide."
Elijah called for Mills to suspend his reelection bid after the Justice Department report. Mills stayed put.
Haridopolos kept at it in Florida and Washington. He campaigned with Elijah, worked House members and made the endorsement public in early August. Mills still had Trump's earlier backing. A Mills win would have made the next Florida delegation meeting interesting.
Elijah beat Mills by about 13 points Tuesday night. Mills will leave after two terms. Dalton, the Democrat nominee, now faces Elijah in November. Haridopolos figures Republicans just saved themselves tens of millions of dollars on a seat that should never have needed it.
Trump endorsed Mills in February. By Election Day, Mills wasn't on his Florida list at all. Trump had already told him to quit. Mills said no. Bad call.
Haridopolos said he chose not to engage with Mills during the race. He has not heard from Mills since endorsing Elijah and has no plans to call him.
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