How Rep. Cory Mills and his challengers will vote on property tax reform

If you’re still weighing your vote on the seven Republicans and Democrats vying to represent Seminole County in the U.S. House of Representatives, here’s a political Rorschach test: How will you vote on Amendment 3?

Because the answers may surprise you. Some Democrats are voting for the amendment, and some Republicans are voting against it. 

Amendment 3 would increase the property tax exemption for homesteaded properties from the current $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and then $250,000 in 2028; afterwards, the exemption would increase with inflation. Those exemptions would not apply to taxes for schools.

The amendment only applies to a person’s homesteaded property; it does not apply to commercial property or, crucially, to rental properties. A judge recently ruled the amendment’s title and parts of the ballot language need to be rewritten. 

U.S. Rep. Cory Mills has held Florida’s 7th Congressional District since 2022. In the Primary Election, the embattled Republican is fending off three Republican challengers: Ryan Elijah, Michael Johnson and Sarah Uhlrich. Three Democrats are also vying for the chance to run for the seat in the general election: Bale Dalton, Alan Grayson and Marialana Kinter. 

Check here to read Oviedo Community News’ 2026 Primary Voter Guide

Oviedo Community News asked these Republican and Democratic candidates, and Libertarian Christoper Dennison, a simple question: Will you vote for Amendment 3, and why? 

See below for their responses. 

Incumbent Republican Cory Mills

Mills initially said Amendment 3 was a state issue, and that voters should talk to their local elected officials about the measure. 

Mills said the state government is trying to do the “right thing.” 

“They want to make sure that home ownership is home ownership,” Mills said. “We have to look at the fact that where that revenue is lost, where does that come in in other areas?” 

He said he liked what Seminole County has previously done with the additional penny sales tax, approved by voters in 2024, “so I’m hoping …that they’re going to find a solution in replacement of this.” 

But ultimately Mills said he would vote for the amendment. He said he’s allocated millions in federal dollars for law enforcement and infrastructure, a possible cushion for the cuts. 

“But I want to hear what the commissioners and the city council members are going to do if they are looking at this offset,” Mills said. “I think it’s key that federal government picks up the slack, given the fact that so much of our taxpayers’ money goes there. But I think that it can’t come at a cost where we increase local taxes to try and say, “Well, I’m going to rob from Peter to pay Paul.’”

Republican Ryan Elijah

Republican Ryan Elijah, the former Fox 35 news anchor, said he’s not voting for Amendment 3. 

Elijah has been endorsed by Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma and Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood. The Florida Sheriffs Association has come out saying it has “significant concerns” with Amendment 3. 

“I understand that people want their property taxes cut, but I have not seen the numbers yet where we’re not going to lose a lot of services,” Elijah said. “I’ve spoken to a number of different community leaders and mayors, and they just don’t feel the numbers are there. And I think we’re going to cut way too many services at this point.”

Republican Michael Johnson

Michael Johnson said he plans to vote for Amendment 3. 

Johnson said cities should give up their non-government spending, and privatize non-essential services.

“The question should be, ‘Where’s the money going?’” Johnson said. “Because I’ve been in a lot of different county commission meetings and city commission meetings, and they’re talking about what I call non-essential government activities.”

He said the government should be cutting spending. Johnson said he was worried that counties and cities might increase the property tax rate. 

“But what I do worry about are the politicians locally putting the burden on the businesses,” Johnson said. “I’m against putting the burden on businesses and people who own second and third homes.”

Republican Sarah Ulrich

Republican Sarah Ulrich is voting against Amendment 3. 

Ulrich said government should be smaller and closer to the people governed. 

“We don’t want the state government to control what your local government does,” Ulrich said. “We want less government. We want it smaller, closer to home. When things go up and up in bureaucracy, then you get waste, fraud and abuse.”

Because of the $12 billion cut in funding, local governments would be beholden to the federal and state governments to try and make up the difference. 

“And you have the state telling your local municipalities what they can and cannot do, who the winners and losers are, and who can suck up to that government the best, and we don’t need that,” Ulrich said. “We need people to be able to keep their decisions local.”

Democrat Bale Dalton

Democrat Bale Dalton is against Amendment 3. 

Dalton said there are other areas affecting the cost of living that the federal government could address, like tariffs and the war in Iran, which is increasing gas prices. For the state government, he said a better issue to tackle is property insurance reform. 

“I think [Amendment 3] is an ad hoc, minor attempt at a solution, that is really no solution at all because it’s taking the power away from our communities, our counties and cities, and making folks have to go up to Tallahassee to beg for money,” Dalton said. “We don’t want to go to the federal government to beg for our taxes back. Why would we sign up to go to Tallahassee to beg for taxes back to take care of our neighborhoods and communities?”

Democrat Alan Grayson

Democrat Alan Grayson is the only Democrat running for Congressional District 7 who is planning to vote for Amendment 3. 

Grayson said the current homestead exemption is “fraudulent” because very few people own a home worth $50,000 or $25,000. 

“It’s not a real thing. It’s a fakeout,” Grayson said. “The homestead exemption should have always been roughly the amount of a value of a home, and it hasn’t been. So the tax itself is deeply flawed.”

But, Grayson added, it’s “irresponsible” that Republicans didn’t put forward an alternate method to fund the government. 

“There should have been a plan in place to replace the funds that (governments) will no longer be getting because of the homestead exemption being dramatically increased,” Grayson said. “The Republicans are irresponsible. They didn’t do anything about that. But the fact is that we’re better with a homestead exemption that’s real than we are with a homestead exemption that’s fake.”

Democrat Marialana Kinter

Democrat Marialana Kinter was in Tallahassee when lawmakers voted to put Amendment 3 on the ballot. 

She said she saw fire chiefs and police chiefs saying it would “gut our emergency services.” She said cities are worried they’re “going to go insolvent.”

That’s why she’s voting no on Amendment 3. 

“We need to prioritize our emergency services because when your house burns down, you’re not going to say, ‘I’m glad I saved $5 in my property tax,’” Kinter said. “You’re going to say, ‘Where’s the fire department?’”

Kinter said she’s worried that cities and counties would move to fee-based systems. 

“They’re going to have to go to subscription-based utilities, like parks and libraries, and that’s going to wound everybody across Florida,” Kinter said. “It’s going to take away resources that we all use and enjoy for free right now.” 

Libertarian Christopher Dennison (note: Dennison did not supply a photo and was not at the event)

Whoever wins on the Democrat and Republican sides will face Libertarian Christopher Dennison in the fall. 

Dennison said he is “of course” going to vote for Amendment 3, and that’s he’s not a fan of taxes overall: “I wish we didn’t have them at all,” Dennison said. 

He said city and county commissioners are worried about losing their “slush funds.”

“Because the money goes back to the homeowner, and the government needs to learn how to spend their money better and budget better,” Dennison said. “The money deserves to go back to the people. Anytime you can give money back to the people it’s a good thing.”

He said anyone who raises taxes or fees in response to Amendment 3 passing should be voted out. He said budget shortfalls should be handled by raising money from the private sector. 

“If they’re in a shortfall for cops or fire or whatever project, then raise money for it,” Dennison said. “Do a fund drive. … If people think it’s a good idea, they will give money. Look at all the fundraisers done online. Look at Kickstarters.”