shut in the nuthouse

Emily Singer at Daily Kos:

Republicans’ odds of maintaining control of the House took a blow over the weekend, after the deadline passed for the GOP to replace Rep. Max Miller on the ballot in his Ohio House seat. A Miller spokeswoman confirmed to The New York Times that Miller is staying in the race, meaning Republicans are now stuck with an accused domestic abuser whose personal scandals—and his abysmal effort to defend himself from the horrific allegations levied against him—imperils his otherwise safe GOP district. Miller’s ex-wife, Emily Moreno—daughter of Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio—accused Miller of throwing scalding water at her, holding a gun to her head, and breaking the collarbone of the couple’s two-year-old daughter. Bernie Moreno also said Miller was essentially torturing his grandchild by refusing to return a stuffed blue bunny the child uses as a comfort item and which was left with Miller after a custody exchange. To defend himself from the disturbing allegations, Miller released a trove of documents, text messages, and emails that he said would exonerate him. However, the evidence he provided did the exact opposite, showing that Miller did indeed cruelly withhold the child’s blue bunny, and admit to some of the violence—which he claimed was not intended to hurt his ex-wife.

Indeed, Miller’s response to the allegations was so bad it was as if the public watched him self immolate. The disturbing allegations have upended the race in Ohio’s 7th District—a seat Donald Trump carried by 11 percentage points in 2024. Republicans were trying to force Miller out before the deadline, admitting at the 11th hour that Miller’s allegations were disqualifying. A poll showed Miller trailing Democratic nominee Brian Poindexter by a stunning 14 points. 

[...] Miller staying in the race has led political handicappers to move the race into more competitive territory. Inside Elections says the race now merely leans Republican, while the election forecasting outlet VoteHub says the race tilts Democratic.

New poll shows Roy Cooper holding seven-point edge in North Carolina https://share.google/AWrwwgHB6etg9RUQG

https://share.google/AWrwwgHB6etg9RUQG