Trump touts 'great candidate' Ryan Elijah after Cory Mills ousted

Elijah defeated Mils on Tuesday evening, marking the latest instance of an incumbent losing their seat this election cycle.

Published: August 19, 2026 9:57am

President Donald Trump on Wednesday celebrated the victory of Ryan Elijah in a Florida House primary and distanced himself from ousted Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., who he had endorsed.

Elijah defeated Mils on Tuesday evening, marking the latest instance of an incumbent losing their seat this election cycle. Mills had been plagued by scandal, but still had Trump's endorsement.

"I told Congressman Cory Mills of Florida, a friend of mine, to get out of the Race, but he wouldn’t listen. He thought he could win, so who can blame him?" Trump posted on Truth Social. "We now have a great candidate, Ryan Elijah, running in his place! Ryan stands for EVERYTHING MAGA, and is respected by ALL. He has my Complete and Total Endorsement!"

Elijah's victory also marks the latest instance of a Trump-backed candidate losing in the primary race and came the same night that the Trump-backed Catalina Lauf lost her primary for a different Florida House seat.

In South Carolina, recently, Trump was forced to issue a rare double-endorsement in the gubernatorial primary runoff after it became clear that voters would not rally behind his choice of Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, R-S.C., and were instead flocking to state Attorney General Alan Wilson, who won decisively.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent for Just the News. Follow him on X.

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