Republican Rep. Cory Mills (FL-07) is still under an ethics investigation, and his Republican colleague Nancy Mace (SC-01) still wants his scalp. Now, a Republican challenger has decided that he wants the congressional seat.
Looks like Florida is heating up in more ways than one.
Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., a scandal-plagued lawmaker facing bipartisan calls to resign, drew a GOP challenger Tuesday who threatens to scramble his re-election bid.
Ryan Elijah, a veteran former news anchor for FOX 35 Orlando, is launching a bid for Mills’ central Florida House seat, vowing to defeat the embattled incumbent in the Sunshine State’s August primary.
Elijah told Fox News Digital that Republican voters should have an alternative to Mills, who is facing allegations of sexual misconduct and campaign finance violations, among other improprieties.
We should have alternatives no matter WHO is in office. I am a strong believer that no one should be coronated. Each election cycle, elected officials should be required to be put through the paces; and the only way to do this is if a credible person issues a primary challenge to their record. The tires on the car still must be kicked, even if it's not a first-time purchase.
Swalwell Not the First - House Committee Has Long History of Investigating Members' Bad Behavior
Elijah called the allegations against Mills "serious" and said the House Ethics Committee should continue its investigation into the incumbent’s alleged misconduct. The panel announced last week that its only active investigation related to "sexual misconduct and/or dating violence" is the Mills probe.
The committee has not indicated when it plans to wrap up its investigation into Mills, which began in November.
Elijah is a 20-year Florida resident, and according to his LinkedIn profile, he is an Emmy-winning anchor of Fox 35's "Good Day Orlando," and the host and executive producer of his own weekend show, "Orlando Matters." Elijah has worked for Fox 35 since 2012, but appears to be stepping down and stepping into the campaign trail. He announced there would be a change on his Facebook page, although he did not allude to the fact that he would be running for Congress.
Elijah revealed why he chose to enter the race.
[Elijah] said he decided to challenge Mills after receiving "overwhelming support" from community leaders in the district to jump into the race.
He also characterized Mills as vulnerable in a general election setting who could put the GOP in danger of losing the Republican-leaning district in November’s midterm elections. Democrats are notably targeting Mills’ seat as a top flip opportunity in the Sunshine State.
"There's obviously a chance we could lose the seat," Elijah said, if Mills is the Republican nominee.
In this anti-incumbency fed-up electorate, it's more than obvious. Mills' Democrat opponent, Bale Dalton, who is a former chief of staff for NASA, has a war chest of $464,000 cash-in-hand, while Mills' campaign is reportedly in debt. Mills' incumbency, along with the lack of funding for his campaign because of perceived or real scandal, is a problem for Republicans, whether they wish to admit it or not. Couple that with a Democrat opponent who looks like a harmless moderate compared to, say, former Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-27), and Florida District 7 could well be in peril for Republicans.
Of course, Eljiah is at the beginning of making his case, but ahead of the August 18 Florida primary, the name recognition and the fact that he has been a voice and presence in the state's life and politics will work to his advantage.
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
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