Read our latest coverage of yesterday’s primary results in Michigan, Missouri and elsewhere on our live POLITICO blog.
Rep. Chuck Edwards just announced he is dropping his reelection bid after the House Ethics Committee recommended a censure for inappropriate behavior with female staffers. But Rep. Max Miller says he is not backing down from his race amid domestic abuse allegations — and claims Speaker Mike Johnson has his back.
Johnson says he hasn’t talked to him.
The speaker sat down with POLITICO’s Dasha Burns for an episode of The Conversation on Tuesday night, where he was asked about Miller’s comments earlier in the evening that “Speaker Mike Johnson, everyone else — they’re standing behind me.”
“I haven’t spoken to Max about this in the last few days. Of course, I will,” Johnson said, adding “it’s not my business” to get engaged in members’ family matters. He called for a House Ethics investigation to “play out.”
Johnson’s comments break days of silence from House GOP leadership on the explosive allegations that have thrown the future of Miller’s reelection campaign into question. Miller is denying any wrongdoing.
Now the controversies around Miller and Edwards threaten to further distract from Republicans’ midterm pitch, as leaders like Johnson criss-cross the country this month trying to boost their candidates.
The White House is privately pressuring Miller to drop his reelection bid, four people with knowledge of the conversations said. But Miller is defiant, declaring he has zero intention of dropping out.
If Miller changes his mind, he has until the end of this week to exit the race if Republicans want to replace his name on the ballot.
Tuesday night, Johnson also addressed Edwards’ plight, saying the North Carolina Republican has “to make a big decision.” Edwards has accused the Ethics panel of overstepping in calling for his censure.
“I’ll provide counsel when we have that discussion, it will be a private discussion,” Johnson said. “I hope he does the right thing for him and his family.
Edwards faced a Monday deadline for Republicans to replace him on the ballot. Privately, House Republican leaders were pushing him to drop out, two people familiar with the discussions said.
What else we’re watching:
— THUNE TRIES TO IRON OUT SENATE SCHEDULE: The Senate will stay in session “for the next week or however long we’re here,” Thune said Tuesday, as Republican leadership struggles to reach an agreement with Democrats and some of their own to speed up consideration of legislation before recess break. Democrats want to know if Republicans plan to vote to advance the framework for a third party-line bill this week as well as force a vote on a cryptocurrency bill they oppose. Budget Chair Ron Johnson wants to discuss the budget framework’s path more in Wednesday’s Senate GOP lunch.
— SENATORS PICK SIDES ON BLANCHE: Todd Blanche picked up an important GOP vote Tuesday for his nomination as attorney general — Sen. John Curtis — likely leaving him just one vote shy of securing confirmation. Meanwhile, Sen. Susan Collins said she’d oppose him. The remaining undecided Republican senators are Sens. Bill Cassidy and Lisa Murkowski. Both said Tuesday they are still grappling with their decisions.
Jordain Carney, Chris Marquette and Katherine Tully-McManus contributed to this report.
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