Ryan Elijah

Ryan Elijah earned a bachelor's degree from Anderson University in 1994. His career experience includes working as a news anchor.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

After serving as a public figure in the community for 14 years, I am running to be a strong local voice for our Florida values. My wife and I raised our boys in the district and I will make hardworking families, local businesses and safe communities my number one priority. I will fight for lower taxes and look to cut wasteful government spending and fraud. Fraud against American taxpayers must not be tolerated. I will also focus on healthcare, including eliminating unnecessary regulation to drive costs and premiums lower. I come from a military family and will ensure that our military remains the strongest and best equipped force in the world. I will also fight for our veterans to get the best possible care after serving our nation. A strong education system is critical to securing our children’s future. I will make sure every child has access to quality, safe and effective schools. .

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Residents in the 7th district deserve a local voice in Washington who represents their interests. I am a fiscal conservative committed to making sure our tax dollars will be used in the best interests of the people I represent.

I will fight to reduce our unsustainable national debt by cutting spending and fraud. We must stop burdening our children and grandchildren with our trillions in debt.As a longtime news anchor, I have been able to build strong relationships with leaders in our community. For public safety, I will build on strong law enforcement connections to listen to their needs and make sure they have the federal assistance they need. Federal funding for training, new technology and personnel are critical for the safety of our community. I will strongly support legislation that protects law enforcement, including tougher penalties for assaulting or shooting officers.Congress must do its part to keep taxes low and drive down costs for American families. Energy independence and lower gas prices are critical to our economy. Common sense energy policies will reduce costs for families, businesses and everything we purchase. I will also support sound economic policies, including lower taxes and less regulation. Unnecessary federal regulations will slow job creation and economic growth.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

While there are many areas of public policy that I am passionate about, the economy and our federal budget hit close to home with me. The wrong policies can make it difficult for individuals and businesses to succeed. We have the world’s best economy and we need to continue pro-growth practices that encourage our businesses to invest and grow here in America. Their success will bring more employment opportunities for workers, along with higher paying jobs. We must control government spending to keep interest rates from going higher and also costs for consumers.

Campaign websiteElijah's campaign website stated the following:Affordability/EconomyCongress must continue driving down costs for American families by keeping taxes low and achieving American energy independence. Lower gas prices are critical to our economy because they reduce costs for families, businesses, and everything we buy.It's past time to put a stop to out of control government spending that acts to drive up everyday costs for American families and our national debt.Ryan understands that burdensome federal regulations will slow job creation and economic growth.By unleashing the world’s best economy through lower taxes, less regulation, and smart growth, we will make America more affordable and prosperous for millions of Americans.HealthcareThe United States must continue to lead the world in medical innovation. The federal government can do more to lower healthcare costs. Ryan supports solutions that deliver affordable, patient-centered healthcare options. He also believes healthcare costs can be reduced by providing individuals with tax benefits, such as expanded Health Savings Accounts. Additionally, Ryan supports greater transparency in the system, including requirements for clear pricing from hospitals, insurers, and other providers.EducationRyan will strongly support our schools. His boys were educated in both public and private schools. He believes both are critical to our children’s success and our community’s future. That’s why he champions parental rights and school choice, empowering families to make the best decisions for their kids and have transparency on curriculum. Federal funding is important for the district, with the most recent audit showing Seminole County's budget is comprised of nearly 14% federal funding, while Volusia County is closer to 20%. (National Center for Education Statistics, 2022/23 school year)We must protect local control and ensure every dollar serves our students effectively.Faith, Family and LifeFamily is the foundation of our strong communities in Central Florida. Ryan is active in his church and believes in protecting family values. As your representative, he will champion policies that support parents, protect children, and keep families united and strong. Ryan is pro-life and believes every life is a sacred gift from God.The Miltary/VeteransRyan comes from a military family, with both his father and grandfather having served. We must ensure that the U.S. military remains the strongest and best-equipped fighting force in the world, backed by the most advanced technology. We must also guarantee that our veterans receive the best possible care after their service to our nation.Law EnforcementRyan is a strong defender of law enforcement and deeply understands the daily challenges officers face. He will strongly support legislation that protects law enforcement, including tougher penalties for assaulting or shooting officers.He is a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment.Ryan has received multiple honors for his outstanding support of law enforcement.Illegal ImmigrationAmerica is a nation built by immigrants, however we must enforce the rule of law.We must continue to secure our borders and oppose any measures that weaken enforcement or prioritize non-citizens over American safety.Ryan will work with local law enforcement to stop the flood of illegal drugs that damage our Central Florida communities.He strongly supports the Save America Act, which ensures only American citizens can vote in our elections — because citizenship must matter.— Ryan Elijah's campaign website (July 10, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.