Democrats get their man as scandals put once-safe GOP House seat in play

A retired Navy helicopter pilot backed by the Democratic establishment cruised to victory in the Florida primaries on Tuesday night.

Bale Dalton defeated ex-congressman Alan Grayson and progressive Marialana Kinter, another Navy veteran, for the Democratic nomination to run in the Sunshine State’s 7th Congressional District, which is currently represented by Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla.

What was once expected to be a safe GOP seat is now being viewed as a possible pickup opportunity for Democrats in November as scandals continue to pile up for Mills.

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Retired Navy helicopter pilot Bale Dalton won the Democratic primary to compete for the House seat currently held by Rep. Cory Mills. (Bale Dalton: Veteran For Florida)

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report downgraded Republicans’ chances of keeping the district from a “safe” to “likely” win for the GOP. It’s rated R+5, meaning Democrats could have a shot with the right candidate.

Dalton is already on the House Democratic campaign arm’s “Red to Blue” list, meaning left-wing leaders are expected to pour money and other resources into the race.

He was also endorsed by progressive veterans group VoteVets, the moderate-left Blue Dog Coalition, as well as Reps. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., and Lois Frankel, D-Fla.

Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., attends the House Armed Services Committee hearing titled “Department of Defense FY2027 Budget Request,” in the Rayburn House Office Building on April 29, 2026. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)

Mills, who served in the Army, has been bogged down by controversies in recent years that have prompted two of his fellow Florida Republicans — Reps. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., and Mike Haridopolos, R-Fla. — to call for him to drop out of the race.

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They backed challenger Ryan Elijah, a former longtime Orlando news anchor.

President Donald Trump boards Air Force One on Aug. 9, 2026, at Morristown Airport in Morristown, N.J. (Eric Lee/Getty Images)

Mills is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee and allegedly by the Department of Justice (DOJ), though he denied the latter probe’s existence. Mills has also denied all wrongdoing.

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He went into his bid for a third term endorsed by President Donald Trump, though the commander-in-chief has not spoken on the allegations of sexual harassment and financial impropriety that have dogged the sitting Republican incumbent.