Republican Representative Cory Mills of Florida has been removed in a primary election, adding to a growing list of congressional incumbents who have lost their bids for renomination this year. According to the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, twelve House members and two senators have been defeated in the 2026 midterms. Kyle Kondik, Communications Director at the Center for Politics, noted that this is one of the highest numbers in decades for a non-redistricting year. While some losses can be attributed to redistricting, other factors include scandals affecting incumbents, actions by former President Donald Trump to unseat certain GOP lawmakers, and a push from Democrats for generational change.
Democratic Representative Shri Thanedar of Michigan was recently defeated by left-wing challenger Donavan McKinney, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Other notable defeats include Democratic Representatives Dan Goldman of New York and Adriano Espaillat, who were ousted by progressive challengers.
In Texas, redistricting led to a primary showdown between Democratic Representative Julie Johnson and former Representative Colin Allred, with Allred winning the runoff election. Former Mayor Luke Bronin of Hartford, Connecticut, also won a primary against long-serving Representative John Larson, highlighting the trend of generational change in the Democratic Party.
Former President Trump influenced the ousting of Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who voted to convict Trump during his impeachment trial. Additionally, Republican Senator John Cornyn lost his nomination runoff to Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is a supporter of Trump. Other Republican incumbents, such as Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Dan Crenshaw of Texas, also faced defeats, often due to their perceived alignment with or against Trump.
In Florida, Mills lost to Ryan Elijah in a four-way GOP primary, with Elijah campaigning against Mills due to an ongoing House Ethics Committee investigation and a restraining order against Mills. Despite Trump's endorsement, Mills was unable to secure his position. Earlier this year, Representative Tony Gonzales of Texas resigned after admitting to an affair, further illustrating the challenges faced by incumbents in the current political climate.