Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) has gained a high-profile primary challenger as the Florida Republican faces threats of expulsion in the House over allegations of misconduct.
Ryan Elijah, a former news anchor for FOX 35 Orlando, announced plans to challenge Mills in the GOP primary for Florida’s 7th Congressional District on Tuesday.
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In a statement, Elijah said the district “must have a Representative in Washington who puts your needs first. I have raised my family in the district for 14 years and will make hardworking families, small businesses, and safe communities my number one priority.”
Mills has been accused of domestic violence, stolen valor, and financial misconduct. He is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee. Mills has denied any wrongdoing.
Elijah did not address the allegations against Mills in his announcement; however, in an interview with Fox News Digital, he called the allegations “serious” and encouraged the House Ethics Committee to pursue its investigation into Mills.
Mills is also facing an expulsion threat from Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), who announced her motion to oust the Florida Republican last week, saying in a statement that “the swamp has protected Cory Mills for far too long and we are done letting it slide.”
“We tried to censure him and strip him from his committee assignments,” Mace said. “Both parties blocked it, but we are not backing down.”
Mace, who is running for governor of South Carolina, tried to censure Mills and remove him from the House foreign affairs and armed services committees last year. That effort was blocked on the House floor and sent to the House Ethics Committee, which has been investigating Mills since August 2024.
In a statement posted online after Mace introduced her resolution, Mills challenged her to “call the vote forward” and also cited the House ethics investigation against her.
HOUSE EXPULSION FEUD BETWEEN NANCY MACE AND CORY MILLS BURSTS INTO PUBLIC VIEW
“Rather than political fundraising theatrics by Mace ‘introduced’ ignoring due process, why not notice for a vote?” Mills wrote. “Nancy thinks allegations and accusations is due process and should concern South Carolinians if she was to be considered for Governor.”
Elijah is the third Republican to hop into the race to represent Florida’s 7th district, joining Republicans Michael Johnson and Sarah Ulrich.
