Cory Mills

Cory Mills
Born	Cory Lee Mills 13 7, 1980
Birthplace	Winter Haven, Florida, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, businessman
Known for	U.S. Representative for Florida's 7th congressional district
Education	American Military University (BS, MA)
Children	2
Awards	Bronze Star
Website	[mills.house.gov Official site]

Cory Lee Mills (born July 13, 1980) is an American politician, businessman, and United States Army veteran serving as the U.S. representative for Florida's 7th congressional district since January 2023. A member of the Republican Party, Mills won election to Congress in 2022 after defeating state representative Anthony Sabatini and six other candidates in the Republican primary, followed by a general election victory over Karen Green, the vice chair of the Florida Democratic Party. Born and raised in Central Florida, Mills enlisted in the Army in 1999, served as a sniper with the 82nd Airborne Division, and received the Bronze Star Medal during a deployment to Iraq in 2003. After his military service, he worked as a defense contractor and co-founded PACEM Solutions International LLC in 2014. He served as a Trump appointee on the Defense Business Board from 2020 to 2021. Since taking office, Mills has drawn both support and controversy, including scrutiny over his military service record and contentious interactions with constituents at town hall meetings in 2026.

Early Life

Cory Lee Mills was born on July 13, 1980, in Winter Haven, Florida, a city in Polk County in the central part of the state. He was raised in Central Florida. Details about his parents and childhood upbringing are limited in publicly available records. Mills has described a background rooted in the region, and his connection to Central Florida would later become a focal point of his congressional campaigns, as he sought to represent the area where he grew up.

At the age of 19, Mills enlisted in the United States Army in 1999, beginning a military career that would shape much of his subsequent professional and political life. His decision to join the military directly out of his teenage years meant that his early adult life was defined primarily by his service rather than by civilian pursues.

Education

Mills earned an Associate of Arts degree from Florida State College at Jacksonville. He later attended American Military University, where he completed both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts degree. His education at American Military University, an institution that caters primarily to military service members and veterans, was pursued while he was engaged in his post-military career in defense consulting and contracting.

Military Service

Mills enlisted in the United States Army in 1999 and served until 2003, attaining the rank of Sergeant. He was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, one of the Army's premier airborne infantry divisions based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. During his service, Mills was deployed to Iraq as part of the U.S. military operations in Iraq that began in 2003.

Mills served as a U.S. Army sniper during his Iraq deployment and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service. The Bronze Star is one of the U.S. military's individual decorations, awarded for either heroic or meritorious achievement or service in a combat zone.

In February 2026, the U.S. Army released personnel records related to Mills's military service following questions and accusations regarding the nature and extent of his service record. The release of these records came amid allegations of stolen valor that had been directed at the congressman. The allegations and the release of the records received coverage in multiple media outlets, including an investigative report by Mother Jones that examined the congressman's service claims in detail.

Career

Defense Contracting

After leaving the Army in 2003, Mills transitioned into the private defense sector. He worked as a military contractor in various capacities before co-founding PACEM Solutions International LLC in 2014. PACEM Solutions operated in the defense consulting space. Mills's work in the defense industry became a subject of media attention during his congressional campaigns and tenure, including reporting by Politico that connected his company to the manufacture and sale of tear gas and related crowd-control products. A 2022 Politico report noted that tear gas produced by a company linked to Mills had been used against Black Lives Matter protesters in 2020.

When Mills arrived in Congress in January 2023, his background in the defense industry drew further attention after reports indicated that he had brought dummy grenades to his congressional office. Business Insider reported on the presence of the inert ordnance in the office of the freshman congressman, who had been assigned to the House Armed Services Committee.

Defense Business Board

In December 2020, Mills was appointed by President Donald Trump to serve on the Defense Business Board, a federal advisory committee that provides independent advice to the Secretary of Defense. The appointment came during the final weeks of the Trump administration. Following the inauguration of President Joe Biden in January 2021, Mills resigned from the board in February 2021 at the request of the incoming administration.

2022 Congressional Campaign

Mills entered the race for Florida's 7th congressional district after the incumbent, Democratic representative Stephanie Murphy, announced in December 2021 that she would not seek re-election. Murphy had been one of the leaders of the centrist Blue Dog Coalition within the Democratic caucus, and her departure opened the seat in a district that had been redrawn following the 2020 census.

Mills filed to run in the district as a Republican, joining a crowded primary field. The Republican primary featured eight candidates, including sitting Florida state representative Anthony Sabatini, who was considered one of the more prominent contenders. Politico reported that Mills was among a wave of Republican veteran candidates seeking to help the party reclaim the House majority in the 2022 midterm elections.

Mills received the endorsement of former President Donald Trump during the primary campaign. Time magazine reported on the endorsement, which Trump described as his "Complete and Total" endorsement of Mills's candidacy. The endorsement was considered a significant factor in the competitive primary.

On August 23, 2022, Mills won the Republican primary, defeating Sabatini and the other candidates in the field.

In the November 2022 general election, Mills faced Karen Green, who served as vice chair of the Florida Democratic Party. Mills won the general election decisively, becoming the representative-elect for the 7th district.

U.S. House of Representatives

Mills was sworn into office on January 3, 2023, succeeding Stephanie Murphy as the representative for Florida's 7th congressional district. He joined the Republican majority in the 118th United States Congress.

During his first term, Mills aligned closely with the positions of the Republican conference. He served on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee, assignments that reflected his military and defense industry background.

2024 Re-election

Mills sought re-election in 2024 and faced minimal opposition in the Republican primary. In the general election, he was re-elected to represent Florida's 7th congressional district. He began his second term in the 119th United States Congress in January 2025.

Town Hall Meetings and Constituent Interactions (2026)

In late January 2026, Mills held a series of town hall meetings in his district that drew significant attention due to contentious interactions between the congressman and his constituents. On January 30, 2026, Mills hosted a town hall at the Oviedo City Center, where hundreds of constituents attended. Many attendees expressed anger and frustration, directing a range of questions at the congressman. Protesters also converged on the event in significant numbers, according to Spectrum News 13.

A separate town hall event in Volusia County also drew a hostile reception. The Orlando Sentinel reported that Mills was booed by attendees who were angry over his support for ICE operations in Florida and Minnesota. The newspaper reported that Mills "lashed out" in response to the pushback from constituents.

Controversies

Stolen Valor Allegations

Mills has faced accusations of stolen valor—the misrepresentation or exaggeration of military service records. In February 2026, Mother Jones published an investigative report examining Mills's military record and other aspects of his background. The report raised questions about the accuracy of Mills's public representations of his military service.

Following the publication of the investigation, the U.S. Army released Mills's personnel records in response to requests for information about his service history. The Daytona Beach News-Journal published the released records and reported on their contents.

Restraining Order

In October 2025, a north Florida judge issued a restraining order against Mills after ruling in favor of an accuser. Politico reported on the judicial action, noting that the restraining order was issued against the sitting congressman. The matter was also cited in the subsequent Mother Jones investigation as part of a broader examination of Mills's personal and professional conduct.

Tear Gas and Crowd-Control Products

Prior to his election to Congress, Mills faced scrutiny over his connection to crowd-control products. Politico reported in April 2022 that tear gas linked to Mills was used on Black Lives Matter protesters, raising questions during his primary campaign about his business dealings in the defense sector.

Personal Life

Mills resides in Central Florida within the boundaries of Florida's 7th congressional district. He has two children. Details about his spouse and family life have been kept relatively limited in official disclosures, though some aspects of his personal life became public through legal proceedings, including the restraining order issued in October 2025.

The Mother Jones investigation in February 2026 also reported on other aspects of Mills's personal history, including claims related to a past bankruptcy filing.

Recognition

Mills received the Bronze Star Medal for his service during the Iraq deployment as a member of the 82nd Airborne Division. The Bronze Star was a central element of his political identity and campaign biography when he first ran for Congress in 2022.

He received the endorsement of former President Donald Trump during the 2022 Republican primary, which Trump characterized as his "Complete and Total" endorsement. The endorsement was considered a key factor in Mills's primary victory over a field of eight candidates.

An opinion column in the Daytona Beach News-Journal in February 2026 offered critical commentary on Mills's tenure, alongside that of fellow Florida representative Randy Fine, noting the negative attention both had drawn to the region's congressional delegation.

Electoral History

Mills's electoral record in Florida's 7th congressional district includes:

• 2022 Republican primary: Mills defeated state representative Anthony Sabatini and six other candidates to win the Republican nomination.
• 2022 general election: Mills defeated Democrat Karen Green, the vice chair of the Florida Democratic Party.
• 2024 general election: Mills was re-elected after facing minimal primary opposition.

External Links

• Official congressional website
• Campaign website
• Congressional profile at Congress.gov
• Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• C-SPAN appearances
• Federal Election Commission candidate page
• Vote Smart profile