Gov. Ron DeSantis hasn’t endorsed anyone in Florida’s 7th Congressional District. But he is distancing himself from the Republican incumbent.
DeSantis was asked about U.S. Rep. Cory Mills’ re-election campaign during a news conference at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, held days ahead of Florida’s statewide Primary.
“So this is a question about the 7th Congressional District, Republican Primary,” DeSantis said. “I have not endorsed Cory Mills, and I do not support Cory Mills. Okay, God bless everybody.”
DeSantis took no further questions and did not endorse any of the Republicans challenging Mills in Tuesday’s congressional Primary, where polling shows the two-term incumbent vulnerable to an upset.
Mills, a target of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, has faced multiple personal scandals and criticism from Democratic and Republican foes alike. Mills faces a significant challenge from former TV news anchor Ryan Elijah, who has spent more than $186,000 ahead of the Primary while Mills’ fundraising has stalled.
Of course, Mills has stressed another key endorsement in the GOP race. President Donald Trump endorsed the incumbent in February, writing on Truth Social that Mills “knows what is required to Defend our Country, Support our Military/Veterans, and Ensure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.”
But notably, Trump reposted endorsements on Wednesday evening for every other Republican incumbent seeking re-election this year but omitted the reminder of who he supports in CD 7.
Mills also faces Michael Don Johnson, a conservative who challenged him in 2024 and who filed a complaint launching a House Ethics investigation of whether Mills profited from defense contracts while serving in the U.S. House.
Last year, the Ethics investigation was expanded following a live-in girlfriend saying Mills assaulted her in their shared Washington, D.C., apartment. The woman, Sarah Raviani, later withdrew her accusation and Mills was never arrested.
But House investigators are also looking at accusations from Lindsey Langston, another live-in girlfriend in Florida, who said Mills threatened to distribute intimate pictures to other men after she moved out of their home. A Judge last year issued a no-contact order on Mills.
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A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics contributed to this report.
Jacob Ogles has covered politics in Florida since 2000 for regional outlets including SRQ Magazine in Sarasota, The News-Press in Fort Myers and The Daily Commercial in Leesburg. His work has appeared nationally in The Advocate, Wired and other publications. Events like SRQ’s Where The Votes Are workshops made Ogles one of Southwest Florida’s most respected political analysts, and outlets like WWSB ABC 7 and WSRQ Sarasota have featured his insights. He can be reached at [email protected].
August 14, 2026 at 1:15 pm
If he doesn’t support Cory then he doesn’t support Byron. Cory and Byron are thick as thieves.
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