VOLUSIA MATTERS NEWSLETTER
Volusia Matters Podcast
Special Issue
Congressional District 7 Candidates Forum
August 5, 2026
Brannon Center, NSB
hosted by Volusia Republican Executive Committee.....
This report is a composite of the MAIN statements made by each candidate on various issues....... I attended the forum and reviewed the video. I've TRIED to get a KEY 1-2 statements from each candidate's response to the questions asked by the moderator.
It's not perfect but hopefully gives some insight into each candidate.
A Republican candidates forum was held in Volusia at the Brannon Center....... included incumbent Congressman Corrie Mills, Sarah Ulrich, Ryan Elijah, and Don Johnson. The moderator, Javier Manjarres from The Floridian, asked questions and maintained control, even though there were a few heated moments.
For further review, click here to see WESH-TV's video of the forum.
Don't forget, early voting for August 18 primary goes to August 15, 8:00am - 6:00pm. Click here for poll locations.....
Questions included......
Election Security.....all candidates supported voter ID at the polls. All also opposed allowing law abiding illegals to vote.....
Sarah Ulrich– should not have voting machines tied to the internet.....SAVE Act could be written better but it is a must...R's majority in House and Senate but if we can't unite on this, then....
Cory Mills - I was co-sponsor of SAVE Act.....got a problem with machine algorithms....elections were stolen in 2020....would ONLY support mail-in ballots for active Military on duty.....why Dems trying to get illegals in US... working with Democrats to pass SAVE Act is not realistic.
Ryan Elijah - I support SAVE Act...it puts one common rule for ALL states....agree that Trump won 2020...election integrity is a top issue.....depends on the State (Fla is OK...no confidence in California, Oregon)...pass it as is now.....
Don Johnson- 2020 election was stolen....met with legislature to approve election integrity law to remove 1.3 inactive voters off the roles.......there are 5 rogue states..... need stronger election safeguards but Republicans should be able to pass them without Democrats.... No compromise needed
What issue do you disagree with President Trump?
Sara Ulrich......I do not agree the way US went into Iran. Congress is abdicating their position. We would have the congressional office the judiciary and the executive office....a three legged stool.....if Congress does not use their power we are going to lose the Republic......right now we're in a quagmire in Iran....spending a lot of money....low on munitions...should've planned this spending a lot of money.....we have a situation where we're weakening ourselves on the world stage before China and Russia
Cory Mills– US running low on ammunition is fake news. We're building up munitions at a record pace and we're hitting recruitment goals every time. I stand by the President and that's why I'm endorsed by the President.
Ryan Elijah- if I say I disagree with the President that becomes the headline so I'd say this there's no administration I'm gonna agree with 100% but the recent affordability housing bill, which was passed by partisan effort. The only reason he didn't sign it was because he wanted for Save America Act (voter ID bill).
Don Johnson- President Trump made a mistake by endorsing Cory Mills for reelection
Economy..... all candidates said the country is doing better. They pointed to strong stock market results, including the S&P 500 being at an all-time high.
Elijah Ryan- we're seeing economic growth now...stock market been up...economy is cyclical..... I liked the Big Beautiful Bill which is starting to have an impact.....for example,Brunswick has "reshored" some of their manufacturing jobs back from Monterey Mexico back to Florida...need to continue to increase jobs...
Don Johnson - the economy is actually pretty good for most people. It's just certain segments of our society i.e. young generation and many other people that can't make payments. Congress' job is to support capitalism and not to get involved in making laws and rules and controlling every aspect of our lives. That Housing legislation was not good...it's full of bureaucracy...need free market/capitalism to run economy
Sarah Ulrich– national debt is going up rapidly and we're printing money rapidly so if you don't want to lose your savings or your retirement, it better be in the market right now. us spent $2.81 trillion last year that we did not have, if you do not have money to put in the market and keep up with it, you're drowning, you were not trying to get ahead. You're just trying to keep your head above water. This is hurting people the cost of oil going up is hurting small businesses especially when people can't go out. Household debt is up. savings are down.
Cory Mills - Federal government has gotten so addicted to spending.....don't know how to keep it within budget. Energy is global currency....President Trump has been adamant about US energy dominant and lower the cost of heating/cooling and transportation costs. We're at 130% GDP to national debt expenditures.....far too high...we can't cut our way to prosperity or profitability....we have to grow economy by bringing jobs back to us by promoting America first opportunities.
Affordability..cost of living?
Don Johnson- Government should not be handing out goodies to everybody. Break up some of the big monopolies....need to have competition to bring down the cost of electricity and ulitities...for example, in Texas, you can have a choice of utilities.
Sarah Ulrich- Federal government needs to do less... have a lot of social programs. Fla is a donor state, i.e. we send out more federal dollars than we ever get back. If we spend less, there'll be less bureaucracy. consumers will be able to spend their own dollars in ways that you see fit. Corporations own our politicians before they even get into office....because of that endorsement and donations, they expect something in return.
Cory Mills– need to codify Trump's exec orders....I support the idea of repealing 17th amendment which disenfranchised our state legislators ....we have to do Congress we have to fly from 1780 to 1860, tariffs mattered because 90% of our federal revenue was generated by foreign governments. we should promote American goods.....use tariffs so they can't be cost competitive to ours when they're using slave labor......we must understand how global economy works today...it's not the way it has in the 1960s, 70s or 80s. stop foreigners from buying our American farmlands.
Ryan Elijah- long-term progress starts with lowering energy prices......higher US LNG production and record energy exports as results of policies that reduce costs for families and businesses. Since cheaper gas lowers operating expenses, companies pass savings to consumers, improving the economy. Tax cuts plays a big role, and energy is the key driver.
Tarriffs?
Ryan Elijah– while not ALL CEOs agree, tariffs can help bring jobs and revenue back to the US....they encourage companies—like Brunswick's Boston Whaler—to shift production home.....Big Beautiful Bill helped support this change.....US-China trade improved under President Trump i.e. more business flowing to US' companies...... even if tariffs remain controversial for some companies
Don Johnson- US does not face the same issue for certain imports like bananas/coffee, but there's still a problem with goods such as automobiles....some countries produce items with cheaper labor and benefit from that...that needs to stop...I support Trump's tariffs....
Sarah Ulrich– tariffs are good but this back-and-forth is causing a problem because businesses need to be able to plan long-term.....would like to see more stability in tariffs.... when enacted, the money coming back is going directly to companies, so consumers aren't getting benefit. We are bringing back some manufacturing...don't need smart cars from China and smart devices that our manufacturers are selling in the Chinese market. They will steal our technology and sell it back to us. we need to make sure our it stays within the country.
Cory Mills– I like President Trump bringing back tariffs.... they were used in the US from 1780–1860 and produced significant revenue.... Helped balance the scales so competitors/China shouldn't undercut American jobs with "cheap slave labor"...must include tariffs on individual companies.....tariffs make US goods more attractive and can lower manufacturing costs over time through economies of scale.....more US jobs mean more tax revenue and less government strain
Specific legislation measure to help cut down the debt?
Don Johnson - an effort about 15 years ago was working pretty good until the presidency changed....then went on a big spray it's spending spree because of COVID. lot of the interest on our debt that we're paying is helping pay your social security income and highway trust fund...
Sarah Ulrich- earmarks are a problem. this is where special interest spending goes.....$2.81 trillion. how do you think it got added to the budget? it's where we bag the federal government back.
we're making our children slaves to our debt, when inflation steals your opportunities because the government is printing money and handing it out choosing winners and losers.
Cory Mills- get rid of depts that no longer serve purpose.....cut the Dept of Education.... return that back to the states...EPA... nobody should tell you what you can or can't build on your land. that should be a state council.....cut redundant positions.....look at how we can minimize or cut foreign funding. don't need trillions of dollars going to other nations
Ryan Elijah- 74% of the budget is mandatory programs tied to entitlements and that includes the debt so i actually agree with Cory Mills on Dept of Education and EPA. there's fraud in welfare programs.......billions of dollars that we could 74% of the budget is mandated on autopilot. those are tough numbers.
Iran's aggression in Mid-East?
Sarah Ulrich- something needs to be done but i don't agree how it's being done in Iran...we know that our enemy is a liar...cannot trust them....wasting a lot of money/time..it's hurting our credibility on the world stage. Europe must come in and invest in their own safety and we need to ensure that we can protect ourselves in the long term.
Cory Mills- Trump quickly ended the Obama-era nuclear agreement with Iran, arguing it failed and that you can't negotiate with terrorists..... Iran's missile capability is a major threat to Europe, noting launches with ranges that could reach major cities like Rome and Paris... the IRGC is a dangerous actor and that tougher terms are needed....US cut oil to China to increase leverage and show strength, aiming to prevent weapons from threatening American soil.
Elijah Ryan - Iran can't match our military strength....Iran is going after US public opinion with midterms coming..... we gotta finish the job. we're dealing with a country where the people in leadership cannot be trusted.....must get a regime change if we don't get that promise, then we're back here again
Don Johnson- Iran has been killing our soldiers for the past 47 years.. a lot of Iranians in Orlando area want their country back. President needs to listen to the strong government leaders....we must realize that Islam is a threat to America and I support the more going in to the end the regime......like to have our ships their trade partners' ships going through the straits. I want unconditional surrender.
Venezuela/Maduro - consensus was US did the right thing
Sarah Ulrich - Maduro was a terrible leader, but if it were not for oil, I don't believe the US would have taken him out. Even now, we are not putting in the elected president but retaining a puppet from his administration.
Cory Mills– Venezuela's Maduro was an illegitimate leader in a communist fashion.... when we stopped the illicit oil trade from Iran and Russia, it puts an economic stronghold against them where they can't continue to threaten Tiwan. Trump opened an avenue for American oil and gas in Venezuela.....helped to push the Monroe doctrine and made us, the western hemisphere and the rest of the world safer. I support the overthrow the communist regime in Cuba where China has a spy base.
Ryan Elijah- the Venezuela operation fits the "Donroe Doctrine" and was impressive...... "energy dominance" means US influence i.e. money sent to these countries helps secure access to crude oil and key shipping channels....military action was well executed, successfully removing Maduro. Overall, the results matter for energy supply and also demonstrate American strength, sending a clear message to the rest of the world.
Don Johnson - i give the credit to what happened in Venezuela to the soldiers that were on the mission, not the politicians.
Ukraine?
Ryan Elijah - at this point, it's gotta be a NATO issue for them. We have done everything we can. We've got to talk about 1st we cannot be in these endless war especially when we're continuing to fund those so no I think we vote 2024 was the right vote to stop that funding
Cory Mills - would never support funding Ukraine conflict....."it's not our war."
Don Johnson - I do support Ukraine because....they are on our side.
Sarah Ulrich - US should've taken note when Putin was building up on their border. Though not an ally, to check Russian aggression/expansionism we must call it out at the build-up, not after they invaded. Same goes for China building islands in international waters....expanding slowly and we must act swiftly where our security is at risk.
During the forum, other candidates raised accusations toward Mills........including him being the subject of a Justice Dept investigation, but he denied any criminal wrongdoing and said he had never been charged.
AI technology was a concern especially in terms security and individuals' privacy.
Isreal - consensus was to combat against Islamic radicalism..US must do everything possible to stabilize this region.
Anti-Semitism? Consensus was wholehearted support of Jewish individuals.
Background on each candidate......
Cory Mills — incumbent
- Defended his record in Congress and argued that he's been a staunch supporter of President Trump who supported his campaign.
- Defended himself against allegations involving his military record, his former marriage, his religion and the House Ethics investigation.....said he has never been charged with a crime.
- Said he has delivered strong constituent services and that opponents are trying to remove him because he refuses to bend to Washington's political establishment.
Ryan Elijah — former TV news anchor
- His central argument was that Mills has become too politically damaged to win the November l election.
- Elijah said his campaign is "not personal" and that he is running because Republicans risk losing the seat to a Democrat.
- He highlighted endorsements from Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Mike Haridopolos...repeatedly questioned Mills about the reported DOJ investigation and said he believes there is an active investigation.
Michael Don Johnson — Army veteran/former Defense Department official
- Johnson was by far the most aggressive critic of Mills....made Mills' military record a major issue, accusing him of "stolen valor" and challenging Mills' claims regarding his military service and Bronze Star.
- He also attacked Mills over the former marriage, alleged dealings involving Ukraine and what Johnson described as Mills' departure from conservative Republican principles.
- Johnson characterized his challenge as personal, unlike Elijah and Ulrich, because he believes Mills has violated the trust of Republicans.
Sarah Ulrich — Port Orange businesswoman
- presented herself as the political outsider and business-oriented candidate... that can provide credible leadership for Republicans
- Questioned Mills about his personal history, including his marriage and religious background.
- Her broader message focused on the economic problems facing Central Florida families.
Volusia Economic Q Breakfast - Aug 21, 7:30 AM at Daytona Intl Airport....Speaker -
REMINDERs -
- EARLY VOTING RUNs to August 8 - 158:00am - 6:00pm
- Next Volusia Matters Podcast/Newsletter to be emailed Thursday, August 13.....
Tortugas' have a home stretch at Jackie Robinson Ballpark play a home stretch
August 11-16
They currently rank 1st in East Division of Fla's State League (Single-A)
Next Volusia Matters Newsletter will be emailed Sept 2 and Episode 169 podcast with news/interview comes out August 13