Trump-endorsed Mills loses primary in Florida amid House Ethics probe

Republican Rep. Cory Mills is projected to lose his Florida, according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ), marking a setback for President Trump, who endorsed his reelection bid. Ryan Elijah, a former TV reporter, defeated the incumbent and two other GOP challengers with the support of two of Mills's Florida House Republican colleagues — Reps. Mike Haridopolos and Anna Paulina Luna. Mills has come under fire in recent months amid an ongoing House Ethics Committee investigation over various dating violence allegations and campaign finance law violations. He has also faced resignation and expulsion calls from both sides of the aisle. Elijah is poised to face off against Democrat Bale Dalton, a Navy veteran and former NASA chief of staff, who has led his primary field. The Cook Political Report and DDHQ forecast the race as "likely" to remain in Republican hands next Congress. Mills's loss is the latest blemish on Trump's endorsement scorecard. His picks have lost in a pair of high-profile races in recent weeks — including two House primaries in Michigan and Tennessee. Democrats were bullish about their chances in the district in November if Mills had won the Republican nomination. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has included Dalton in its "Red to Blue" program, while Florida Democratic heavyweights like former Sen. Bill Nelson as well as Reps. Lois Frankel and Kathy Castor have supported his bid. New Jersey Gov. Mike Sherrill (D) has also backed Dalton. The former NASA …