Targeted by Democrats and under ethics investigation, U.S. Rep. Cory Mills closed the quarter with just over $81,000 on hand.
The New Smyrna Beach Republican collected under $60,000 over the last three months. That brings the two-term incumbent’s total haul for the election to nearly $806,000, but much of that has been depleted, with the campaign having spent more than $1.1 million in the cycle to date.
That means even the cash he has in the bank is chiefly left over from prior campaigns. But Mills dismissed concerns.
“If you look at my FEC reports, you will see that I fund my race based on opponent raise and what our polling indicates is necessary to win,” Mills told Florida Politics. “My first race required more based on open seat and number of opponents in primary. My second race required less based on opponents and Presidential turnout. This is a gubernatorial election so will see good turnout and none of my opponents have raised significant funding to require a larger loan or media ad buys. If needed, I will put into my race without hesitation.”
But the shortage of funds comes as Mills faces both Republican Primary and Democratic opposition sensing vulnerability.
The bulk of support for Mills has come from individuals, with the campaign reporting nearly $32,000 in small donations and another nearly $28,000 in itemized ones. But while Mills’ campaign has received more than $133,000 in transfers from leadership committees over the course of the campaign, none of that came in the last quarter.
Mills also isn’t personally funding the campaign so far. Federal reports show no candidate loans.
Meanwhile, Mills is coming off more than a year of hefty negative publicity. He started the election cycle already under investigations for allegations he profited from defense contracts while in Congress.
The investigation expanded to look at allegations from two separate live-in girlfriends, one in Washington and one in New Smyrna. Sarah Raviani that he assaulted her in their shared Washington apartment, allegations she later recanted. Meanwhile, Lindsey Langston said he threatened to share intimate photos after a breakup.
Mills has denied wrongdoing and said he expects to be exonerated.
The original House Ethics investigation was launched after a complaint was filed by Republican Primary opponent Michael Don Johnson, who had raised less than $45,000 over the course of the race through June and wrapped the quarter with just over $9,000 in the bank. Additionally, he faces businesswoman Sarah Ulrich, who raised under $13,000 and has spent about $14,000.
But many consider Mills’ most notable Republican opposition to be former broadcaster Ryan Elijah, who has yet to file his first fundraising reports. All GOP candidates face off in an Aug. 18 Republican Primary.
But regardless of whether Mills is ultimately imperiled in a GOP Primary, national Democrats have also identified Florida’s 7th Congressional District as a “District in Play” and Democrat Bale Dalton, a former NASA Chief of Staff, through March had already raised more than $692,000 and closed the first quarter with $464,000 on hand. His second quarter numbers were not yet available, but he has been added to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s coveted Red to Blue program. Dalton also faces a Democratic Primary in August.
