House Republican divisions have spilled into the campaign trail in Florida, where two GOP lawmakers are backing a primary challenger to incumbent Rep. Cory Mills days before the election. Reps. Mike Haridopolos and Anna Paulina Luna endorsed Ryan Elijah, a former sports reporter, in the Aug. 11 primary for Florida’s 7th District and urged Republicans to support him. «Ryan Elijah is an excellent candidate and will ensure victory for us in Florida 7,» Haridopolos said.
Mills, a military veteran and an ally of President Donald Trump, is facing investigations by the House Ethics Committee and the Department of Justice in connection with his finances, and he has also faced allegations of domestic abuse. He has denied any wrongdoing. After reports of a Justice Department probe emerged, Mills dismissed them as a «desperate lie» from opponents, saying there had been no confirmation of such an investigation by the DOJ or FBI and that he would fully cooperate if one existed.
In response to the endorsements, Mills highlighted Trump’s backing. «I’m the only candidate in this race endorsed by President Donald Trump. Not once, not twice, but three times,» he said. He added that Trump knows he will «continue fighting to advance the America First agenda and deliver results.» Mills also pointed to his congressional record, saying his office has returned more than $107 million to residents of the district, led Florida in constituent services, and built one of the strongest conservative voting records in Congress.
The intra-party challenge is notable because Trump has endorsed Mills, Haridopolos, and Luna for re-election, placing his endorsed allies on opposite sides of the primary. Republican anxiety about the seat has been growing. The Cook Political Report downgraded its outlook for the district from «Solid R» to «Likely R» earlier this year, and its rating of R+5 suggests Democrats could put the seat in play if the national political environment becomes difficult for Republicans.
A primary debate between Mills and Elijah was scheduled for Wednesday night, and Haridopolos said he planned to attend and sit next to Elijah’s wife.
The Florida race is the latest example of GOP infighting complicating the party’s efforts to hold Congress for the remainder of Trump’s term. Similar problems are playing out in other House races. Rep. Chuck Edwards of North Carolina dropped his re-election bid after a report detailed sexual harassment accusations by two young female staffers. Edwards has denied the accusations but acknowledged that he sometimes made staff feel uncomfortable.
In Ohio, Rep. Max Miller faces accusations of domestic abuse from his ex-wife and from her father, Sen. Bernie Moreno. Miller, a former Trump aide, has denied the allegations and asked the House Ethics Committee to open an investigation to clear his name. He has resisted pressure to leave the race, saying the accusations are an attempt to derail his political career.
All three seats are on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s target list, meaning Democrats are expected to spend heavily in those contests. One House Republican, speaking on condition of anonymity, said all three should drop out, saying, «We must lead by example.» The combination of primary turbulence and misconduct allegations threatens to distract from the GOP’s broader campaign message and could give Democrats openings in races that should be safe Republican territory.