A series of serious allegations against GOP congressmen in key House districts have rattled party insiders this week, fueling Republicans’ anxiety that they could lose seats once considered mostly safe and further endanger their majority.
In the crucial final weeks before the midterms, Speaker Mike Johnson and his GOP campaign arm have sought to defuse mounting political crises engulfing the reelection bids of Rep. Max Miller in the suburbs of Cleveland as well as Rep. Chuck Edwards in western North Carolina with mixed results. On Wednesday morning, Edwards announced he would no longer seek re-election after the House Ethics Committee recommended a censure for him and found he acted inappropriately toward two female staffers in his office.
Democrats are still hopeful about the North Carolina seat given the short runway for a brand-new candidate to contest their own nominee, according to multiple sources.
Miller, meanwhile, has defiantly pledged to stay in the race despite concerns from top GOP officials and the president that he may not be able to win in a district Trump won by more than 10 points.
All of this on top of their existing problem in central Florida with embattled Rep. Cory Mills who is still facing a wide-ranging ethics committee probe.
