Dem
47
GOP
53
We had an item yesterday about Rep. Max Miller (R-OH), who is the target of some very serious allegations of abuse from his ex-wife (Emily Moreno) and his ex-girlfriend (Stephanie Grisham).
Miller's position has gone from bad to worse in the 24 hours since we wrote that. Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), father to Emily, was the first to break ranks and to call for Miller to end his political career. Yesterday, a bunch of other senators, including Roger Marshall (KS) and Shelley Moore Capito (WV), said they'd like to see Miller go. Around the same time, Grisham filed for a new restraining order against Miller, which serves to remind everyone there's a pattern of behavior here. Also around the same time, Jim Renacci, who used to represent Miller's district before mounting a failed campaign for the Senate, helpfully announced that he's available to take Miller's spot on the ballot should Miller drop his reelection bid. And, in the cruelest blow of all (from Miller's vantage point), he got a phone call from Donald Trump hinting that it's over, and that maybe the Representative should drop out and resign from Congress.
We have no idea what will happen here. Miller has thus far dug his heels in, and has spent much time on eX-Twitter insisting that it's all lies. He also does not seem the type to fall on his sword for the good of the party. On the other hand, if Trump is serious, that's not easy for a MAGA Republican like Miller to ignore. Also, while Miller is the only person who can end his reelection bid, his colleagues in the House could expel him from his seat right now if he refuses to expel himself. They could also expel him again next January if he stays in the race and wins.
And, as chance would have it, Miller is not the only member of the House Republican Conference who is problematic in this general way. Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC) was creepy with his young, female staffers. He gave them personalized handguns, read them steamy poems, sent suggestive text messages, and maneuvered to spend time alone with many of them. He is not accused of any physical contact, or even with propositioning anyone, but the behavior was bad enough, and pervasive enough, that the House Ethics Committee voted yesterday to recommend censure for Edwards. The whole House will put it to a vote later this week.
Many Republicans in Congress would be very happy if both of these Representatives moved on to greener pastures. The GOP really wants to wield Platner as a cudgel, in hopes of holding on to as many women voters as is possible. That becomes considerably more difficult when the Democrats have rid themselves of their (allegedly) abusive candidate, while the Republicans have two (allegedly) abusive candidates who are not only running for reelection, but are also currently serving in Congress.
Another problem is that the GOP is trying desperately to hold on to as many seats as is possible, in hopes of maybe holding on to their majority. As chance would have it, both Miller and Edwards represent R+5 districts. Combine their dirty laundry with a potential blue wave, and the red team could see two really-should-be-safe seats slip away. (Z)