Florida Republican Cory Mills has lost his primary election, failing to secure a second term in the House of Representatives. The incumbent, representing Florida's 7th Congressional District, was defeated by challenger Erick Aguilar in Tuesday's vote.
Mills' campaign was overshadowed by a series of controversies that persisted despite an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. His campaign's new map, signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in May 2026, redrew 21 of Florida's 28 congressional districts. This redistricting aimed to decrease the number of Democratic-leaning districts from eight to four, impacting several Democratic incumbents.
While the 7th District was not drastically altered by the new map, political science professor Aubrey Jewett of the University of Central Florida noted that the map's Republican-leaning nature could help offset potential losses elsewhere for the party. Jewett suggested that flipping the 7th District could be beneficial for Republicans.
Mills' opponent in the general election was set to be Democratic candidate and military veteran Bale Dalton, who has received an endorsement from Pete Buttigieg. Jewett described Dalton as a potentially viable candidate, stating that his victory could not only secure a Democratic seat in the Florida congressional delegation but also potentially offset national losses expected by the party.