Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) will stay on the primary ballot for now after a Florida judge dismissed a lawsuit from one of his Republican opponents.
Friday’s ruling marks a win for Mills as he prepares to compete in the Aug. 18 GOP primary election.
Michael Johnson, one of three Republican primary candidates challenging the congressman’s reelection bid, sued Mills last month over his qualification paperwork for the House race. The plaintiff alleged Mills failed to sign at least one of the qualification documents, which was notarized in the District of Columbia instead of Florida.
The litigation hinges on a new state law that enables a candidate to challenge their opponent’s eligibility on the ballot.
Circuit Court Judge J. Lee Marsh determined the new law centers on eligibility qualifications, such as age and residency, which Mills meets. Marsh noted that the incumbent’s qualification paperwork had already been accepted by state election officials.
“Ultimately, the voters are entitled to choose as long as people meet the requirements of office,” the state judge said during a court hearing.
Marsh also made a point that Johnson’s arguments against Mills could lead to a slew of lawsuits against candidates in the future.
An attorney for Johnson indicated they will likely appeal the judge’s decision, though they only have one month left until the primary.
The election integrity law on which the legal challenge was based has been described as Florida’s version of the SAVE America Act, the Trump-backed bill that has remained stalled in Congress for months. The state law primarily requires proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in Florida. It is already facing legal challenges from voting rights groups.
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) signed the legislation into law, but the measure will not take effect until Jan. 1, 2027, after the midterm elections.
HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE HAS ISSUED 20 SUBPOENAS IN CORY MILLS INVESTIGATION
The court battle is one of many problems plaguing Mills, who is the subject of an investigation led by the House Ethics Committee. The investigation is based on allegations that Mills threatened to share an ex-girlfriend’s sexually explicit videos online and assaulted a woman at his apartment in Washington. He has denied any wrongdoing.
The embattled candidate’s reelection bid could be threatened by his campaign’s poor fundraising figures. He only raised $60,000 from April to June, closing the second quarter with just $81,000 in the bank. Mills is seeking a third term in office.