{"id":2645258,"date":"2026-08-14T17:40:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T21:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-refuses-to-endorse-cory-mills-ahead-of-tuesday-primary\/"},"modified":"2026-08-14T17:44:35","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T21:44:35","slug":"desantis-refuses-to-endorse-cory-mills-ahead-of-tuesday-primary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-refuses-to-endorse-cory-mills-ahead-of-tuesday-primary\/","title":{"rendered":"DeSantis refuses to endorse Cory Mills ahead of Tuesday primary"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdesantis-refuses-to-endorse-cory-mills-ahead-of-tuesday-primary%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2645258&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Governor ron DeSantis (R-FL) has declined to endorse incumbent Congressman Cory Mills ahead of next week&#8217;s competitive Republican primary in Florida&#8217;s 7th District. DeSantis made it clear he does not support Mills adn chose not to elaborate further on his opposition. Mills faces three Republican challengers, with ryan Elijah emerging as a strong contender, backed by prominent Republicans Anna Paulina Luna and Mike Haridopolos. <\/p>\n<p>Mills&#8217;s relationship with DeSantis has been strained; Mills previously supported Donald Trump over DeSantis during the governor\u2019s 2024 presidential campaign.The congressman also discussed a potential primary challenge to DeSantis\u2019s preferred candidate for Florida\u2019s Senate seat, but DeSantis ultimately appointed Senator Ashley moody instead. Trump, who had endorsed Mills earlier in the year, did not mention Mills in his recent endorsements.<\/p>\n<p>Mills faces ongoing investigations by the House Ethics Committee, including a probe into a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/richard-sherman-arrested-on-burglary-domestic-violence-charge-denied-bail\/\" title=\"Richard Sherman Arrested On Burglary Domestic Violence Charge, Denied Bail\">domestic violence incident<\/a> and a Department of Justice inquiry with unspecified reasons.he also encountered a legal challenge over his qualification paperwork, which was dismissed, and has struggled financially, ending the second quarter with around $81,000 in campaign funds. Simultaneously occurring, Representative Byron Donalds, running for governor, avoided commenting on Mills or the backing he has received, simply stating that the voters of District 7 will decide the race.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ron-desantis\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"575\">Ron DeSantis<\/a> (R-FL) refused to endorse incumbent Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) as he faces a competitive <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"926\">Republican<\/a> primary next week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI have not endorsed Cory Mills, and I do not support Cory Mills,\u201d DeSantis said Friday at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, not far from Florida\u2019s 7th Congressional District. DeSantis also declined to elaborate on his opposition to the incumbent.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4688133\/collins-says-jackson-struggles-temper-resurfaced-police-report\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Susan Collins says Troy Jackson \u2018struggles to control his temper\u2019 after resurfaced police report<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4688077\/desantis-refuses-endorse-cory-mills-tight-primary\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DeSantis refuses to endorse Cory Mills ahead of tight primary<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4687902\/talarico-touts-endorsement-man-accused-paxton-stealing-pen\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Talarico touts endorsement of man who accused Paxton of stealing $1,000 pen<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DeSantis is far from the first prominent Republican to withhold support from Mills, who is facing an investigation by the House Committee on Ethics. Mills will face three Republican challengers in Tuesday\u2019s primary, with former local news anchor Ryan Elijah emerging as his most formidable opponent. Elijah has been endorsed by Reps. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/anna-paulina-luna\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"11243\">Anna Paulina Luna<\/a> (R-FL) and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/1663993\/haridopolos-drops-out-of-senate-race-in-florida\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1663993\">Mike Haridopolos<\/a> (R-FL).<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mills and DeSantis have had a rocky relationship, as the congressman backed President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> over DeSantis during the governor\u2019s 2024 presidential campaign.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DeSantis and Mills also had a conversation about filling Florida\u2019s Senate seat after <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/marco-rubio\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"51\">Marco Rubio <\/a>was tapped to serve as secretary of state in 2025. DeSantis ultimately selected Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL), while Mills said he would mount a primary against whoever the governor selected.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump also did not mention Mills while endorsing a slew of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/florida\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"159\">Florida<\/a> candidates this week, but he did endorse Mills in February. Mills is the only incumbent in the four-way Republican primary.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mills is also facing scrutiny from the House Ethics Committee, which has investigated him since August 2024 and established an investigative subcommittee in November 2025. The inquiry includes an alleged February 2025 domestic violence incident involving Mills. He is also facing an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4657918\/cory-mills-doj-investigation-amid-misconduct-allegations\/\">investigation<\/a> from the Department of Justice, but the reason for the probe is unclear.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another GOP challenger, Michael Johnson, sued Mills over his qualification paperwork for the House race, but a state judge<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4653480\/cory-mills-stay-florida-primary-ballot-lawsuit\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4653480\/cory-mills-stay-florida-primary-ballot-lawsuit\/\"> dismissed the lawsuit<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mills has also struggled to raise money for his reelection campaign. He ended the second quarter with roughly $81,000 cash on hand.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4681777\/trump-under-the-radar-campaign-strategy-2026-elections\/\">TRUMP DOUBLES UP ON UNDER-THE-RADAR CAMPAIGN STRATEGY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/byron-donalds\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"6250\">Byron Donalds<\/a> (R-FL), who is mounting a campaign for governor, also sidestepped a question about whether he wants Mills to win or what he thinks of Luna and Haridopolos backing Elijah.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat\u2019s now in the hands of the voters in CD-7,\u201d Donalds said during a campaign stop in Crawfordville in northern Florida.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DeSantis declines to endorse Mills ahead of primary<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4195,"featured_media":2645259,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26065797589583.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[84192,4980,5113,5894,9973],"class_list":["post-2645258","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-corymills","tag-desantis","tag-florida","tag-politics","tag-primaries"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26065797589583.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645258","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4195"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2645258"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645258\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2645262,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645258\/revisions\/2645262"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2645259"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2645258"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2645258"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2645258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}