Former President Donald Trump used his Truth Social platform on Wednesday to announce that he had urged Congressman Cory Mills of Florida to withdraw from the race for the 7th Congressional District. Mills declined, believing he could win, and the primary proceeded.

Primary results and Trump’s endorsement

In the June 18 Republican primary, Mills was defeated by Ryan Elijah, a former television news anchor who ran on a platform described by Trump as “everything MAGA.” Trump wrote, “I told Congressman Cory Mills, a friend of mine, to get out of the race, but he wouldn’t listen. He thought he could win, so who can blame him? We now have a great candidate, Ryan Elijah, running in his place! Ryan stands for EVERYTHING MAGA, and is respected by ALL. He has my complete and total endorsement!”

Elijah’s victory marks the second instance this month in which a Republican incumbent under investigation lost a primary. In Tennessee, Rep. Andy Ogles, facing questions about possible campaign‑finance violations, was defeated by challenger Charlie Hatcher.

Mills faced multiple ethics allegations, including a domestic assault charge, and was under investigation by the House Ethics Committee at the time of the primary. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis did not endorse Mills, and two other Republican members of Florida’s congressional delegation publicly supported Elijah.

On the Democratic side, former NASA chief of staff Bale Dalton secured the party’s nomination for the district. The 7th District is considered to lean Republican, making the primary the decisive contest for the seat.

The outcome eliminates a candidate whom Democrats had viewed as vulnerable due to the ethics issues surrounding Mills. With Elijah now the Republican nominee, the general election is expected to be a contest between Elijah and Dalton, though the district’s partisan tilt suggests a likely Republican hold.

Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.