Republican candidates are declining to comment on campaign donations received from Max Miller, who is facing allegations and is the GOP candidate for Ohio's 7th Congressional District. Despite the controversy, Miller remains on the ballot, forcing the party to support him.
The silence from Republican candidates on Max Miller's campaign donations highlights internal party divisions and the potential political cost of supporting a candidate facing allegations, impacting resource allocation and the party's ability to hold onto a key seat.
Republican candidates are largely remaining silent on whether they will return campaign contributions from Max Miller, the GOP candidate for Ohio's 7th Congressional District, who is currently facing allegations. Van Orden, when asked about a $2,500 contribution from Miller, declined to discuss the matter, referring to the accusations as "allegations" he had only recently heard.
Miller will appear on the ballot in the fall after rejecting calls to withdraw before a legal deadline, meaning Republicans must support him if they wish to retain the seat. Political advisors to President Donald Trump also encouraged Ohio Republicans to refrain from publicly pressuring Miller to exit the race, aiming to avoid an appearance of party disunity.
Current polling suggests Miller is trailing his Democratic opponent, Brian Poindexter, potentially forcing the Republican party to allocate significant resources to a district that was previously considered safely red. Poindexter, a city council member and union ironworker, has been included in the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s “red-to-blue” program, which identifies candidates with a strong chance of flipping Republican-held seats.
Democrats are leveraging Miller's controversial campaign donations in other races nationwide. Benny Stanislawski, communications director for Democrat Bob Brooks, criticized his opponent Mackenzie for accepting donations without scrutiny. Mike Marinella, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, labeled Democrats as "shameless hypocrites" for their stance, pointing out that some Democrats who pledged to return donations from former Representative Eric Swalwell have not done so.
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