Ron DeSantis Refuses to Support Rep. Cory Mills Ahead of Florida Primary

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stated Friday that he does not support U.S. Representative Cory Mills in the upcoming Republican primary for Florida’s 7th Congressional District, adding a prominent political figure to the list of GOP leaders distancing themselves from the incumbent lawmaker ahead of Tuesday’s vote.

DeSantis delivered the remarks during a public stop at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, located near the district, according to reporting by Politico. When asked by reporters about his stance on the congressional race, the governor gave a succinct response: “I have not endorsed Cory Mills and I do not support Cory Mills.” DeSantis did not offer an endorsement for any of Mills’ primary challengers, nor did he elaborate on his specific reasons for withholding support.

The governor’s decision not to back the incumbent underscores a shifting political landscape for Mills as voters head to the polls on Tuesday. Mills faces a primary challenge from three other Republican candidates, including former local television news anchor Ryan Elijah, as reported by The Hill.

Rising Scrutiny and Congressional Defections

Mills has recently faced intense political pressure and mounting scrutiny from within his own party. According to The Hill, the representative is the subject of an ongoing House Ethics Committee investigation concerning allegations of dating violence and campaign finance law violations, among other matters. Mills has consistently denied wrongdoing across all accusations.

Ahead of the primary contest, the incumbent lawmaker has lost ground among key figures in the Florida congressional delegation. In an unusual intra-party move earlier in the month, Republican U.S. Representatives Anna Paulina Luna and Mike Haridopolos issued a joint social media statement endorsing Ryan Elijah over Mills, praising the challenger as a leader dedicated to conservative principles and integrity in public service, as detailed by The Hill.

At the same time, other state Republican leaders have sought distance from the race. U.S. Representative Byron Donalds, described by Politico as the GOP frontrunner to succeed DeSantis, declined to take a position on the primary outcome when asked by reporters during a campaign stop in Crawfordville, noting that the decision rests entirely with voters in the 7th Congressional District, as reported by Politico.

Past Tensions and Endorsement Dynamics

The public distance between DeSantis and Mills builds on a history of political friction. During the 2024 presidential nomination cycle, Mills backed Donald Trump over DeSantis when the Florida governor mounted his own presidential campaign, according to Politico. Tensions persisted into early 2025 when a U.S. Senate seat became vacant following Trump’s appointment of Marco Rubio as Secretary of State; prior to DeSantis selecting then-Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to fill the vacancy, Mills had publicly indicated an intention to challenge whoever the governor appointed.

While Mills has heavily relied on an earlier endorsement issued by President Donald Trump in February to sustain his primary bid, recent social media rollouts have presented a different dynamic. According to The Hill, Trump recently amplified his endorsements for multiple other Florida Republican campaigns ahead of the primary but omitted Mills, making him the only incumbent Republican member of Congress running in the state not mentioned in that social media wave.

Voters in Florida’s 7th Congressional District will decide the Republican primary contest on Tuesday, setting the stage for the November general election. Official elections results and precinct updates will be managed and reported through the Florida Division of Elections and local county supervisor of elections offices.