A new Republican challenger is entering the race to unseat Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.), as the embattled congressman faces mounting scrutiny in Washington and growing uncertainty around his political future.
Ryan Elijah, a former FOX 35 Orlando news anchor and longtime Florida resident, announced Tuesday that he is launching a primary bid for Mills’ central Florida seat. His entry into the race comes as Mills contends with a House Ethics Committee investigation and a potential expulsion push.
Elijah said his campaign is driven in part by concerns from voters in Florida’s 7th Congressional District, who he argues are seeking an alternative to the scandal-plagued incumbent.
“People in the Seventh District want another choice,” Elijah said in an interview with Fox News Digital.
Mills is currently under investigation by the House Ethics Committee over allegations that include sexual misconduct, campaign finance violations, and misuse of his office. The panel confirmed last week that its only active probe involving alleged “sexual misconduct and/or dating violence” centers on Mills, though it has not indicated when the investigation will conclude. (RELATED: Multiple Members Of Congress Face Potential Expulsion Votes In Major Test)
Among the accusations, Mills allegedly threatened to release explicit images and videos of an ex-girlfriend following the end of their relationship—claims that led a judge to bar him from contacting the individual. He was also involved in a reported domestic violence incident in Washington, D.C., last year that prompted a police response. Mills has denied all wrongdoing and has not been criminally charged. (RELATED: Nancy Mace Files Resolution To Expel Lawmaker From Congress)
“I’ve never been indicted for anything,” Mills told Fox News last week. “Everything has just been an accusation, allegation.”
Elijah described the allegations as “serious” and said the Ethics Committee should be allowed to complete its work, while also suggesting the controversy has weakened Mills politically.
“There’s obviously a chance we could lose the seat,” Elijah said, warning that Mills could be vulnerable in a general election if he secures the Republican nomination. Democrats have already identified the district as a potential pickup opportunity, and the nonpartisan Cook Political Report earlier this year downgraded the race from “solid” to “likely” Republican.
Financial pressures may also complicate Mills’ re-election effort. According to recent Federal Election Commission filings, his campaign entered April with just over $115,000 in cash on hand while carrying more than $2 million in debt. By comparison, his leading Democratic challenger, former NASA chief of staff Bale Dalton, reported $464,000 in cash on hand at the end of the first quarter.
Elijah, who has lived in Florida for two decades, said he was encouraged to run after receiving what he described as “overwhelming support” from local community leaders. While Mills has secured an endorsement from former President Donald Trump—a potentially decisive factor in Republican primaries—Elijah indicated he plans to compete for that backing as well.
“I’m not going against the president’s endorsement or even going against the party. I’m going for both of those,” Elijah said. “Right now, I’m just focused on getting out of the gate and just talking to people, and we’ll see where those chips fall.”
Mills’ challenges extend beyond the campaign trail. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) has introduced a resolution to expel him from Congress, citing allegations that include misrepresenting his military service, engaging in improper financial dealings tied to federal contracts, and committing acts of sexual misconduct.
“This guy has no place in Congress, especially if you’re a woman, especially if you’re a military vet, what he’s done is shameful, and at some point we have to take responsibility for ourselves,” Mace said Monday. “If we’re going to hold the left accountable, we’ve got to hold the right accountable too.”
Although Mace has not yet forced a vote on the measure, it adds to the pressure surrounding Mills, particularly as several lawmakers facing misconduct allegations resigned from Congress earlier this month rather than face potential expulsion votes.
For now, Mills has shown no signs of stepping aside, instead signaling he intends to fight both the allegations and his political challengers.
“There’s been a lot of calls for him to resign. He obviously decided he wasn’t going to,” Elijah said. “He was going to fight it out at this point. So I think his fate is in the hands of Congress.”
As the Ethics Committee investigation unfolds and the 2026 election cycle heats up, Mills now faces a dual test—defending his seat at the ballot box while confronting escalating scrutiny on Capitol Hill.
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