The two-term representative has made headlines numerous times throughout his time in office, which has prompted the House Ethics Committee to investigate possible campaign finance violations and allegations of domestic violence.

President Donald Trump backed Mills, announcing his endorsement in February, calling the incumbent an “America First Patriot” and “Tremendous Champion for the Great People of Florida’s 7th Congressional District.

Mills believed the president's endorsement would secure him the win; however, he had not been named in repeated endorsements by Trump leading up to the Tuesday primary.

Days before the primary, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis publicly announced he would not endorse Mills for re-election, telling reporters, "I do not support,” the scandal-ridden candidate.

“I have not endorsed Cory Mills, and I do not support Cory Mills," said DeSantis.

Political analysts believed a Mills nomination could have given Democrats vying for the House seat enough momentum to flip it come November 3, which may have also been a contributing factor to Mills losing the race.

Elijah weaponized that opinion, using it to reinforce his campaign against Mills, while leaning on the incumbent's overwhelming number of scandals.

In February, the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., investigated Mills after officers were called to a luxury apartment to respond to an assault allegedly committed by Mills against a 27-year-old woman.

Body camera footage and documents related to the incident showed Mills on the cusp of arrest, but officers on the scene were ordered not to after the alleged victim changed her account after appearing to talk to Mills.

When police sought to arrest him the next day, a local prosecutor declined to sign the warrant.

Another allegation involving an ex-girlfriend, Lindsey Langston, the current reigning Miss United States, accused Mills of revenge porn, saying he’d threatened to release nude photos of her online.

This led her and a Florida GOP state committee woman to file a restraining order against Mills.

Mills allegedly continued to harass Langston, causing her to file a police report in mid-July 2026, providing investigators with digital timestamps to support her allegations.

“From emotional manipulation, to physical violence against whoever I date in the future, to threats of having me stripped of the Miss United States crown… something I worked extremely hard for and a dream that was placed in my heart long before I even knew who Cory Mills was,” Langston said in an interview.

Parallels are being drawn between Mills’ loss and Ohio Republican Max Miller, who is also facing a slew of abuse allegations. Miller, who is on the official ballot for November, may experience the same fate as Mills due to the overwhelming backlash he’s experienced after his ex-wife filed a lawsuit accusing him of intentionally uploading a nude photo of their daughter online.

Miller has maintained his innocence in this matter, taking to social media to clarify his situation—with less-than-ideal results.

Commenters under his post called for him to drop out of the race, siding with his ex-wife and solidifying their stance that he would not win the Congressional House seat if he continued his run.

Ryan Elijah will face Democrat Bale Dalton in the November 3rd election.