Newsweek, August 2026
Cory Mills is just the latest in a string of incumbents to be ousted from Congress in a primary battle this year, but his defeat could serve as a particular warning sign for embattled Representative Max Miller. The race in Florida’s 7th Congressional District was a test of whether a scandal-plagued House Republican could survive a primary with the backing of President Donald Trump. For Mills, the answer was no.
He lost the Republican nomination to former television journalist Ryan Elijah after being hammered over multiple investigations he is facing, including an ongoing House Ethics Committee probe into allegations of sexual misconduct and campaign finance violations. The Department of Justice is also investigating his finances. Mills has denied wrongdoing.
