President Trump's political clout is once again on the line in Florida, where Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) is fighting for a third term against a field of challengers while under an ongoing House Ethics Committee investigation. The committee has been probing allegations ranging from campaign finance violations to sexual misconduct since November, casting a shadow over the congressman's reelection bid.
The ethics panel is also examining a 2024 incident in which a woman accused Mills of assault, though she later recanted. Mills has consistently denied all wrongdoing, telling CBS News in April, "Absolutely zero criminal and/or civic cases that are open against me. I've never been arrested, charged or prosecuted for a single thing."
Trump endorsed Mills in February, praising him as "an America First Patriot and Tremendous Champion for the Great People of Florida's 7th Congressional District!" However, the president has not repeated that endorsement in recent campaign materials, and his latest list of Florida primary endorsements notably omitted Mills. The White House did not respond to requests for comment.
Political analysts suggest that while Trump's endorsement provides some buffer, it may not be enough to overcome Mills's personal controversies. "Mills is clearly going to be helped to some extent by Trump's endorsement, but it does seem like Trump's endorsement is not a guarantee of overcoming your own myriad issues," said Geoffrey Skelley, chief elections analyst at Decision Desk HQ.
Tuesday's primary pits Mills against three Republican challengers: Army veteran Michael Johnson, former local news anchor Ryan Elijah, and real estate businesswoman Sarah Ulrich. The race has drawn significant attention, with some of Mills's House colleagues splitting their support. Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Mike Haridopolos have backed Elijah, while Reps. Brian Mast, Gus Bilirakis, and John Rutherford have endorsed Mills. Notably, Gov. Ron DeSantis has withheld his support, telling reporters, "I have not endorsed Cory Mills, and I do not support Cory Mills."
The Ethics Committee's investigation covers a broad range of allegations, including potential campaign finance violations in Mills's last two House bids, improper disclosure statements, misuse of congressional resources, and acceptance of improper gifts. In May, the committee expanded its probe to include a court injunction that limited Mills's contact with a former girlfriend and the assault incident that was later recanted.
Despite the controversies, Mills has refused to step aside, and his office did not respond to requests for comment. Trump's endorsement record has been mixed recently: while most of his picks have won their primaries, he suffered losses in gubernatorial races in Iowa, Georgia, and South Carolina, and two congressional picks—Rep. Andy Ogles in Tennessee and Amir Hassan in Michigan—lost earlier this month.
The 7th District, which includes New Smyrna Beach, is solidly Republican, with Trump winning it by double digits in 2024. Cook Political Report rates the seat as "likely Republican." However, Democrats see an opportunity if Mills emerges victorious but remains weakened. "I certainly think Democrats would like Mills to win, if the pure goal is to try to have their best shot at winning this seat in November," Skelley noted. Former NASA chief of staff Bale Dalton is the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination.
As the primary unfolds, all eyes are on whether Trump's endorsement can withstand the weight of Mills's legal and ethical troubles—and what that means for the president's political capital in future races. The outcome could also signal how much room there is for GOP incumbents to survive scandals in the current political climate. Related coverage includes South Florida primaries testing Democratic incumbents and Trump voting by mail in the Florida primary.
