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Ryan Elijah Beats Cory Mills by 12 Points

8/19/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) lost the Florida 7th district Republican primary to TV anchor Ryan Elijah (R-Fla.) by 12 points.
The House Ethics Committee opened a probe into allegations Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) assaulted a girlfriend and violated campaign rules.
The Cook Report reclassified the district as “likely Republican,” prompting Navy veteran Democratic nominee Bale Dalton to run against Ryan Elijah (R-Fla.) in November.

History

Historical Context

In the 1974 House elections held on November 5, the Democrats captured a net 49 seats—the largest pickup since 1958—creating the “Watergate Babies” who drove new ethics and disclosure laws after Nixon’s resignation. Those reforms strengthened congressional ethics oversight, a legacy echoed today as Rep. Cory Mills of Florida’s 7th district lost the Democratic primary to Ryan Elijah amid a congressional ethics probe.

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Story summary

Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) lost the Florida 7th district Republican primary to TV anchor Ryan Elijah (R-Fla.) by 12 points.
The House Ethics Committee opened a probe into allegations Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) assaulted a girlfriend and violated campaign rules.
The Cook Report reclassified the district as “likely Republican,” prompting Navy veteran Democratic nominee Bale Dalton to run against Ryan Elijah (R-Fla.) in November.

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