Florida 7th District race 2026: Elijah vs. Dalton

RThe Ledger's profile

Ryan Elijah

Former Fox 35 Orlando anchor, 2026 Republican nominee in Florida's 7th District after unseating Rep. Cory Mills: career, canvass, filings, priorities.

Read the documented profile of Ryan Elijah

Also on the ballot

Bale Dalton

American former NASA chief of staff and U.S. Navy captain; 2026 Democratic nominee for U.S. House from Florida’s 7th Congressional District

The general-election field as the board records it: Ryan Elijah (R) vs. Bale Dalton (D) vs. Christopher Dennison (L)

The race at a glance

Board data as of Sep 15, 2026. Ratings are the raters' own current calls; polls are the newest public ones with their field dates; money is what the committees reported. Nothing here is a forecast.

Seat

Open in effect — Cory Mills (R) lost the primary

Primary

Aug 18 (official): Elijah 31,558 (47.3%), Mills 22,753 (34.1%); D Dalton 21,776 (45.5%)

Ratings

Cook Likely R (Aug 13); Sabato Likely R; IE Likely R

Newest public polling

PPP (D, Dalton) May 20–21: Dalton 41 / Mills 39 (pre-primary)

Reported money

FEC Jul 29: Dalton $1,378,109 / $475,858 COH; Elijah $355,955 / $186,155; Mills debts $2,032,101 (bulk weball)

Notable

Trump: 'I told Congressman Cory Mills … to get out of the Race'; endorsed Elijah post-primary. House Ethics investigation of Mills.

Key dates in Florida

Read from the Florida Department of State, Division of Elections. The full guide, with the official tools, is on the Florida page.

• Voter registration deadlineOctober 5, 2026 is the deadline to register to vote (book closing) for the November 3, 2026 general election. State law closes the registration books on the 29th day before each election. The cutoff depends on how you apply (online, by mail or in person); see the items that follow. dos.fl.gov
• Online registration deadlineOctober 5, 2026, 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) to submit an electronic application through RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov, according to the Division of Elections' online voter registration FAQ (updated August 2022). The FAQ adds that an application submitted after the deadline is still processed and takes effect for the next election. files.floridados.gov
• Early voting beginsOctober 24, 2026 is the first day of the 8-day mandatory early voting period, offered in every county. A county may add optional early voting days from October 19, 2026 through October 23, 2026; contact your county Supervisor of Elections for the days offered where you live. files.floridados.gov
• Deadline to request that a vote-by-mail ballot be mailedOctober 22, 2026, no later than 5 p.m.: the deadline for your county Supervisor of Elections to receive a request for a vote-by-mail ballot to be mailed to you (the 12th day before the election). After that, a ballot can still be picked up in person; from the start of mandatory early voting on October 24, 2026 through Election Day, pickup also requires an affidavit affirming that an emergency keeps the voter from voting at an early voting site or at the assigned polling place. files.floridados.gov
• Deadline to return a vote-by-mail ballot (received, not postmarked)November 3, 2026 (Election Day), 7 p.m. (local time): the Supervisor of Elections' office must receive your voted ballot by then, regardless of postmark. Secure drop boxes at Supervisors' main and branch offices accept ballots until 7:00 p.m. (local time) on Election Day. Exception for overseas voters: a mailed ballot postmarked or signed and dated no later than Election Day counts if it is received by November 13, 2026. files.floridados.gov
• Election DayNovember 3, 2026 (Tuesday). dos.fl.gov
• Poll hoursPolls are open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. (local time) on Election Day, November 3, 2026. Any voters waiting in line at 7:00 p.m. will have the opportunity to vote. On Election Day you must vote at your assigned precinct's polling location. dos.fl.gov

Voting in Florida: dates, rules and official tools

Questions and answers