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Ryan Elijah defeats incumbent Cory Mills in Florida primary for 7th Congressional District

Former TV news anchor Ryan Elijah won the Republican nomination for Florida's 7th Congressional District after defeating incumbent Cory Mills in a primary election. Despite being endorsed by Trump, Mills faced significant scrutiny over allegations of sexual misconduct, campaign finance violations, and a potential military record discrepancy. The administration announced that President Trump urged Mills to drop out of the race before the loss, though Mills remained defiant until the end. Rep. Mike Haridopolos worked behind the scenes to recruit Elijah as a challenger, believing Mills posed a threat to the Republican majority. Elijah will now face Democratic candidate Bale Dalton in the general election. While Mills has faced multiple investigations by the House Ethics Committee and the Department of Justice, he denied any wrongdoing. The victory for Elijah provides a Republican path to hold the R+5 seat without spending tens of millions of dollars. Elijah is expected to advance as the Republican nominee with the full endorsement of President Trump.

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