Scandal-plagued Florida Congressman Cory Mills has been defeated in his reelection bid for the 7th Congressional District, losing his seat after President Trump declined to offer a late endorsement. NBC News projected former local TV anchor Ryan Elijah as the winner shortly after 8 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday.
Mills spent the final weeks of his campaign facing a barrage of allegations, including accusations of domestic violence, sexual misconduct, campaign finance violations, misuse of congressional resources, and questions surrounding his military record, which included claims of "stolen valor."
Trump had previously given Mills his "Complete and Total Endorsement" in February, referring to him as an "America First Patriot." However, in the days leading up to the primary, Trump issued endorsements for several Florida Republicans but conspicuously left Mills off the list. This omission was significant, as Mills had frequently highlighted Trump's earlier backing as a key component of his reelection campaign.
Governor Ron DeSantis also publicly distanced himself from Mills, stating on Friday, "I do not support Cory Mills." DeSantis has largely avoided involvement in Florida's Republican congressional primaries.
Mills has denied any wrongdoing in relation to the various allegations. The House Ethics Committee has been investigating Mills for two years, a probe that runs parallel to an ongoing Justice Department investigation, though the specifics of both remain unclear.
One of the allegations stems from a 2025 police report filed by Sarah Raviani, then-girlfriend, who accused Mills of grabbing, shoving, and pushing her out of his apartment. Mills has described the allegation as "patently false," while Raviani later clarified that no physical altercation occurred and characterized the incident as a personal matter.
Former Miss United States Lindsey Langston also informed Florida authorities that Mills had allegedly threatened her after their relationship ended in February 2025. According to a sheriff's report, Langston claimed Mills repeatedly threatened to release nude photographs and videos of her and warned against her dating other men. Mills has denied these allegations, stating they misrepresented their interactions.
Further scrutiny intensified in July when Mills' longtime chief of staff and chief counsel, Catherine Treadwell, resigned abruptly. Her resignation letter concluded with the statement, "The horrors persist, but I do not."