Trump-backed GOP candidate who ousted scandal-plagued incumbent warns against 'never-ending war' with Iran

For 14 years, Ryan Elijah reported on Central Florida’s biggest stories from the television newsroom.

Now, he is on a mission to represent the same community in Congress.

Elijah stepped into a contentious GOP primary in which he warned that incumbent Cory Mills was at risk of losing the Republican-leaning district to the Democrats, following a series of personal and professional scandals.

Elijah won a convincing victory in the August 18 Republican primary, receiving 47% of the vote to Mills' 34%.

Trump, who had originally endorsed Millls, later claimed that he had privately encouraged the embattled congressman to withdraw from the race.

REP CORY MILLS DRAWS FIRST REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER AS SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS, EXPULSION THREAT MOUNT Recently, the veteran television journalist sat down with Fox News Digital to discuss his views on Iran, affordability, and immigration, while pledging to remain an independent voice in Congress, and a strong advocate for Volusia and Seminole counties .

Elijah did not take the decision to leave working in media lightly, but felt a call to leadership: "I love my job.

It's something I could have retired from TV and been perfectly happy.

But I think we all look for the time you're asked to step up and lead.

And for me, that was this time.

When we saw how the primary was playing out, it just became clear that we were going to lose this election in November.

"And I decided that we had the connections in this community to throw our hat in the ring.

We had the trust from the community and the primary played out a lot like we thought it would, where people wanted a choice.

I think that's what primaries are all about in Seminole County and Volusia County spoke really loud.