Mills, GOP challengers debate in New Smyrna Beach for Florida’s District 7 seat
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. —
Republican candidates hoping to represent Florida’s 7th Congressional District squared off Wednesday night in a contentious debate over ethics allegations, endorsements, military service records, and the future of the GOP seat.
The debate, hosted by The Floridian at the Brannon Center in New Smyrna Beach, brought together incumbent U.S. Rep. Cory Mills and challengers Ryan Elijah, Michael Don Johnson, and Sarah Ulrich. Mills’ appearance came weeks after he declined to participate in WESH 2’s congressional debate with the same Republican challengers in July.
One of the night’s most heated topics centered on reports of a Department of Justice investigation involving Mills’ finances, as reported by NBC News. Mills denied any such investigation exists.
“They keep saying the same thing. ‘Well, a source said. An anonymous source said.’ But yet not the DOJ, not the FBI, not even the (Speaker of the House) knows about it,” Mills told WESH 2 after the debate. “It’s interesting that these anonymous sources that don’t know what the investigation is about somehow know there’s an investigation four weeks before a primary.”
During the debate, Johnson criticized President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Mills, saying he believes it was a mistake.
“When the ethics report comes out, and the other DOJ investigations are completed, you’re going to see what we’re talking about because it’s coming, folks. Just hold your horses. It’s coming,” Johnson said during the debate.
Mills repeatedly rejected the allegations throughout the evening, comparing the scrutiny to investigations involving Trump and arguing that he has not been charged with any crime.
“I know that we’re going to bring it home. We’re going to win in November. We’re going to win on Aug. 18. We’re going to continue to fight for Florida,” Mills told WESH 2.
Elijah also sought to distinguish himself from the incumbent, highlighting a series of recent endorsements from local and state Republican leaders.
Earlier Wednesday, Florida representatives Mike Haridopolos and Anna Paulina Luna endorsed Elijah’s campaign. He’s also recently received endorsements from Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood and Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma.
“These are relationships I’ve had for years and, again, that didn’t happen overnight. This is not something they walk into lightly knowing (they’re) going to endorse against an incumbent with a sitting president’s endorsement, but yet they did,” Elijah told WESH 2. “I think it’s trust, and they know we have to have new leadership in this district.”
After the debate, Ulrich said she wants members of Congress to focus on representing constituents rather than the infighting she said she witnessed during the event.
“I’m hoping voters will hear what I have to say and choose something different so we can operate government in a different way and protect the American people from special interests and large corporations that are preying upon them and making life expensive for the rest of us,” Ulrich told WESH 2.
In addition to the allegations surrounding Mills, candidates debated election integrity, the economy, tariffs, foreign policy, and federal spending. You can watch a recording of the full debate here.
The winner of the Aug. 18 Republican primary will advance to the November general election, where they will face the Democratic opponent.