Rep. Cory Mills’ political survival act ended Tuesday night, when Florida Republicans chose former television anchor Ryan Elijah over the two-term congressman in the GOP primary for Florida’s 7th Congressional District.
According to Blaze News, Elijah received roughly 47% of the vote, while Mills took about 34%. The result followed more than a year of damaging scrutiny involving Mills’ marriage, military biography, finances, business ties, and allegations from women.
Mills had denied or disputed key allegations and, through a spokeswoman, dismissed a previous Blaze News compilation of contradictions as “All gossip.” But the controversies continued to mount as he entered the primary under a House Ethics Committee investigation.
A marriage record raised new questions
Blaze News reported that its investigation began after a February 2025 domestic disturbance call involving Mills drew attention to his marital status. The outlet said it obtained and verified a 2014 Virginia marriage certificate showing Mills had married Rana Al Saadi.
According to Blaze News, the marriage was performed by Mohammed Al-Hanooti, described by the outlet as a radical Islamic cleric who had been identified as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation Hamas financing case and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing plot.
Mills confirmed the marriage to Blaze News but denied converting to Islam and said he did not know about Al-Hanooti’s background. Blaze News also reported that five former associates said Mills had told them he converted to Islam, which Mills continued to deny.
The outlet said the marriage also led to scrutiny of Mills’ business relationship with Al Saadi, including their work in the international arms business and the defense company PACEM, as well as questions about Mills’ financial disclosures after entering Congress.
Veterans disputed parts of his military story
Mills built much of his public image around his military and defense contracting background. His 2022 campaign advertising stated that he was “WOUNDED TWICE WHILE DEPLOYED,” and he had described being “blown up twice” in Iraq, according to Blaze News.
Several former colleagues challenged parts of that account. Scott Kempkins, who Blaze News said was wounded in one of the attacks Mills referenced, told the outlet that Mills could not have been wounded in that explosion because Mills’ vehicle was about 50 yards away. Chase Nash, who was riding in Mills’ vehicle, told Blaze News: “Cory was not wounded.”
When pressed by Blaze News, Mills said that in one explosion he hit his head inside an armored vehicle, described suffering a concussion, and said he returned to work roughly three days later. On the second incident, however, Mills acknowledged he was not inside the vehicle that was struck.
Asked whether he was wounded in that second incident, Mills answered, “No, I wasn’t wounded on that,” according to Blaze News.
Allegations from Lindsey Langston deepened the fallout
Blaze News also reported allegations from Lindsey Langston, then the reigning Miss United States and a Republican official in Florida, who said she had been romantically involved with Mills.
Langston accused Mills of threatening to distribute intimate videos of her to men she might date after their relationship ended, according to Blaze News. The outlet reported that her allegations led to an investigation by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement also becoming involved.
A Florida judge later granted Langston a restraining order against Mills, according to the source report. Blaze News also said Langston made allegations about Mills’ finances, including claims involving people arriving at a home they shared with what she characterized as bags of cash.
Political support faded before the vote
Mills still entered the race with advantages: incumbency, a Republican district, a national profile, and an earlier endorsement from President Donald Trump, according to Blaze News.
But the outlet reported that support weakened as the controversies accumulated. Prominent Florida Republicans, including Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, backed Elijah, and Trump omitted Mills from a later slate of Florida endorsements shortly before the primary.
