Elijah Upsets Mills in Florida's 7th GOP Primary

Ryan Elijah, a former Fox Orlando news anchor, won the Republican primary in Florida’s 7th Congressional District in an upset over two-term incumbent Cory Mills, drawing strong endorsements and outspending Mills as Mills faced multiple ethics probes and personal scandal headlines. Elijah led the race with roughly 47% to Mills’ 34% amid scrutiny of Mills’ record and amid reports of investigations by the House Ethics Committee and the Department of Justice. Mills also faced heightened attention for a lack of support from top figures, including not receiving former President Donald Trump’s endorsement. Elijah will face Democrat Bale Dalton in the November 2026 general election, with Dalton pitching experience in the Navy and government service and focusing on affordability, healthcare costs, and national security. The district, covering all of Seminole County and parts of southern Volusia County, has seen Elijah secure endorsements from local sheriffs and Republican lawmakers, signaling broad local backing. The race is framed as a shift away from Mills’ tenure toward Elijah’s emphasis on affordability, public safety, and parental rights and school choice.