A wave of primary election defeats has hit sitting members of the US Congress in 2026, with Republican Rep. Cory Mills of Florida becoming the latest casualty amid an ethics probe and a restraining order against him. According to the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, twelve House members and two senators have now lost renomination bids this cycle, a figure described as among the highest in decades for a year without nationwide redistricting. The upheaval reflects a mix of personal scandals, ideological insurgencies and the continuing influence of Donald Trump's endorsements on Republican contests.

Notably, Florida has emerged as a flashpoint, with Democratic Socialists of America-aligned candidates such as Angie Nixon scoring upset wins over establishment-backed rivals, including in a closely watched Senate primary where she will now face Republican Senator Ashley Moody. Trump-endorsed candidates had a mixed night in the same state's primaries, winning some races while losing others. Commentators cited in the article point to generational and ideological shifts within the Democratic Party, alongside scandal-driven losses on the Republican side, as key drivers of the unusually high incumbent turnover.