A midterm election defined by scandal? Candidates across parties face controversy
Scandals and controversy have plagued the midterm elections this year, with new accusations and investigations into various politicians on both sides of the aisle.
And it’s not just politicians — candidates who are new to federal politics are also finding themselves answering to new scandals, possibly leaving voters questioning who to vote for and who they can trust.
Let’s take a look at what has happened heading into midterms.
Controversies among Republicans
Of the several House Republicans whose seats are up for grabs this year, two have faced recent controversy, with one as recently as this week.
Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., dropped his re-election bid Wednesday after the House Ethics Committee found Edwards had engaged in “highly unprofessional” conduct with two female staff members.
The committee said his actions “made the women feel uncomfortable, and/or gave the appearance of a sexual or romantic advance.”
“After much prayer and reflection, I’ve decided to withdraw from my re-election campaign,” Edwards wrote on X. “I will complete my current term. Serving Western North Carolina has been the honor of my life. Thank you for your trust, prayers, and support. God bless WNC and America.”
Republicans in North Carolina must now choose a candidate to replace Edwards, with just three months until the election.
The other Republican facing challenges heading into midterms is Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio. Just this week, Miller was accused of assaulting his ex-wife and their child.
As Straight Arrow previously reported, Emily Moreno has said her ex-husband, Miller, has thrown hot water on her, put a gun to her head, and that their daughter’s collarbone was fractured while he was watching her.
Moreno’s father, Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, shared a post on X Sunday, saying Miller should not be in the House of Representatives.
“If there are any basic standards of character required to hold elected office, Max Miller fails them,” Bernie Moreno said on X after Miller posted a livestream. “I believe Max Miller needs to seek professional help to end the clear pattern of abuse he has left in his wake. I believe he should not be free to continue endangering others until he does.”
The House Ethics Committee is now investigating.
Controversies among Democrats
Similar allegations have plagued Democratic candidates as well.
Earlier this year, Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif, resigned from Congress and dropped out of the California governor’s race amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Swalwell was seen as a front-runner in the race to succeed Gavin Newsom, who is term-limited and cannot run for reelection.
As Straight Arrow previously reported, the allegations stem from a former staffer who alleged that Swalwell sexually assaulted her twice, once in 2019 and again in 2024. The more recent assault allegedly took place in a New York hotel room. Three other women told CNN they also experienced instances of sexual misconduct from Swalwell.
One accuser held a press conference in April, claiming Swalwell drugged her drink and proceeded to assault her without her consent, choking her until she passed out.
State Senator Aisha Wahab and former Dublin Mayor Melissa Hernandez are the top candidates running to succeed Eric Swalwell in California’s 14th Congressional District.
The Senate race in Maine also faced a shakeup this year, when candidate Graham Platner, who was leading in the polls, suspended his campaign amid sexual assault allegations.
He denied the allegations despite announcing he was ending his campaign, saying “This is incredibly difficult because I know that some will think it’s an admission of guilt and it most certainly is not.”
After his departure, State Senate President Troy Jackson entered the race and will now face off against incumbent Sen. Susan Collins. Jackson also faces allegations of being hot-tempered during his time in the state legislature, allegedly throwing a water bottle in the direction of someone during a heated exchange.
A third Democrat shook up the House of Representatives race in Florida. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick was re-running for office before she announced her resignation from Congress in April.
She issued her resignation shortly before the House Ethics Committee was slated to meet and decide on a punishment for charges she faced.
Prosecutors allege Cherfilus-McCormick and her brother stole $5 million in federal disaster funds, and used some of it to fund her first congressional campaign. She has denied the allegations and still qualified to appear on the ballot for Florida’s Aug. 18 Democratic primaries.
She is one of five candidates listed on Florida’s 20th Congressional District ballot.
Ethics investigations and reforms
The above candidates and politicians aren’t the only candidates who have faced or are facing ethics probes, either. The House Ethics Committee has ongoing investigations into other congressmembers, including Reps. Cory Mills, R-Fla. and Andy Ogles, R-Fla.
Exact totals for ongoing congressional ethics probes are not available, however, as the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics keeps most preliminary reviews confidential.
But with three congressional departures in April, lawmakers are calling for ethics reforms within Congress.
“There’s an appetite for reforms, and there are discussions taking place, but there’s no easy path forward,” Rep. Glenn Ivey, D-Md., said. “This is one of those things where they say it’s simple but not easy. We want to make the process go faster, but how do you do it? That’s a trickier part.”
Democratic Caucus Vice Chairman Ted Lieu, D-Calif., told The Washington Examiner that his party would “like to have reforms now” and said he is “open to any and all reforms in terms of processes as well as substantive changes” to ethics investigations.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
