A series of serious allegations against GOP congressmen in key House districts have rattled party insiders, fueling Republicans’ anxiety that they could lose seats once considered mostly safe and further endanger their majority.

Scandals in Key Districts

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.

Miller, a long-time supporter of former President Trump, has been accused of abusing his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, the daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno. Miller has denied the allegations, but they have drawn attention from the president himself, who privately does not believe Miller can win the race given the accusations.

Meanwhile, 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 hopeful about the North Carolina seat, given the short runway for a brand-new candidate to contest their own nominee. Miller’s Democratic opponent, Brian Poindexter, has run on a populist record that’s made him a favorite of both moderate Blue Dogs and the party’s progressive wing.

Consequences for the GOP

Republican leaders, including Johnson, have so far avoided publicly pressuring Miller to step aside. However, privately, key Republicans have raced to contain damages where they can and have anxiously watched Miller’s effort to publicly defend himself, which they believe is imperiling his re-election even further.

The House GOP’s main campaign groups haven’t reserved any airtime to back up any of the incumbents through November, according to AdImpact data. But soon, as Democratic spending grows, Johnson and his team will have to decide whether to send critical cavalry to their embattled incumbents for the sake of their majority – even if it could mean tarnishing their own party’s broader brand.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.