Combat veteran and Republican congressional candidate Cory Mills has just scored one of the most sought-after endorsements in the nation—Rep. Mayra Flores.
Rep. Flores, who recently made history by becoming the first Mexican-born woman to be elected to the U.S. Congress and winning a congressional seat that has been held by Democrats for decades, has expressed her support for Mills several times in the past but has now made it official.
Mills made the announcement on Twitter Friday morning by calling Flores an inspiration to “millions of Americans.”
“Through her message of inclusion and self-determination, @repmayraflores has inspired millions of Americans to challenge themselves and strive to achieve the American dream. I am honored to have @MayraFlores2022 endorsement, and look forward to working alongside her in Congress,” stated Mills.
The Floridian was able to confirm the endorsement with the newly-minted congresswoman, who has recently been labeled a “Far-Right Latina” by the New York Times.
Through her message of inclusion and self-determination, @repmayraflores has inspired millions of Americans to challenge themselves and strive to achieve the American dream. I am honored to have @MayraFlores2022 endorsement, and look forward to working alongside her in Congress. pic.twitter.com/H5Iv9irKtF
— Cory Mills 🍊 (@CoryMillsFL) July 8, 2022
Interestingly enough, Flores’ endorsement of Mills sidesteps another Republican female congressional candidate in the race, former Debary Vice Mayor Erika Benfield.
In an interview with Texas Politics several weeks before her special election, Flores positioned herself as the counterbalance to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D), accusing Democratic Socialist lawmaker’s faith and political agenda. Rep. Ocasio-Cortez and fellow "Squad" member Cori Bush, recently targeted Mills and his company for manufacturing and supplying law enforcement with less lethal riot control munitions, namely tear gas.
“They do not represent us, they do not represent the Hispanic community. They represent the Democrat party, not the Hispanic community,” said Flores. “Again, we’re all about God, life, and family. They don’t stand for those values.”
She continued:
“If they went and asked their abuelitas (Grandmothers), ‘do you support abortion?’ I guarantee you that abuelita would get very upset. That is not how we are raised, we were raised to always defend life and they’re not fighting for the values that they were raised in…“They’re abandoning their values, they’re abandoning their culture over a political party. I’m not willing to do that. I’m not willing to forget how I was raised, I’m not willing to forget my culture, and my background for a political party and I stand strong with that.”
Mills, who is running for Congress in Florida’s 7th Congressional District, has amassed 17 congressional endorsements and the support of “Florida’s Sheriff,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
The aforementioned Erika Benfield, businessman Scott Sturgill, Rep. Anthony Sabatini, Rusty Roberts, Navy Seal Brady Duke, Ted Edwards, and Al Santos, have also qualified to be on the ballot in this congressional race.
