<p>Four scandal-plagued House Republicans whose seats should be gimmes for the GOP have instead turned their races into unexpected battlegrounds. <strong>Why it matters:</strong> These aren't districts you'd expect to be in play — Donald Trump carried all four comfortably in 2024. But the incumbents' ethical troubles are making Republicans spend time and money defending the seats — in a cycle where neither party has any room for error.</p><hr><p><strong>Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) </strong><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/05/chuck-edwards-reelection-censure-harassment" target="_blank">dropped his reelection bid</a><strong> </strong>after the Ethics Committee found he violated House rules by sexually harassing female aides and creating a hostile work environment. That's set off a scramble to find a replacement just three months before the election. </p><ul><li>The race was shifted to "toss-up" last week by Sabato's Crystal Ball, even before the ethics report was released. Trump won Edwards' district by 9.5 points last cycle.</li><li>Whoever North Carolina Republicans choose on Monday night to replace Edwards will have a short runway to fundraise and introduce themselves to the district.</li></ul><p><strong>Max Miller (R-Ohio)</strong> is accused of assaulting his ex-wife and their child, allegations he denies.</p><ul><li>Even Trump expressed doubts to Miller that he can win, Axios <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/04/trump-max-miller-moreno-election-house" target="_blank">reported</a> this week. But he's been defiant amid calls for him to drop out.</li><li>Democrats are pinning their hopes on ironworker Brian Poindexter, a progressive populist backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).</li><li>Trump carried the district by 11 points two years ago.</li></ul><p><strong>Cory Mills (R-Fla.)</strong> remains under an active Ethics Committee investigation over allegations that center on <a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/02/24/congress/cory-mills-denies-assault-allegations-00205873" target="_blank">domestic abuse</a>, <a href="https://www.notus.org/congress/cory-mills-iraq-bronze-star" target="_blank">stolen valor</a> and <a href="https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/nation-world/2025/03/28/cory-mills-finances-companies-reviewed-by-house-ethics-committee/82696536007/" target="_blank">financial misconduct</a>, all of which he denies.</p><ul><li>Trump won Mills' district by 13 points in 2024, but Mills is facing a tough primary fight. </li><li>Reps. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) and Mike Haridopolos (R-Fla.) officially backed Mills' primary challenger, Ryan Elijah. Haridopolos told Axios Wednesday that Elijah is a "true family man who can win in November in this safe Republican seat." </li><li>Multiple Democrats are vying to challenge Mills, but party leadership has lined up behind former NASA Chief of Staff Bale Dalton.</li></ul><p><strong>Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) </strong>had his phone <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/08/07/house-republican-phone-andy-ogles-fbi" target="_blank">seized by the FBI</a> in 2024 as part of an investigation into his campaign finances.</p><ul><li>The Justice Department dropped the case after Trump returned to office last year, but the probe has left Ogles politically vulnerable.</li><li>Democratic leadership's top-flight recruit in the district, Columbia Mayor <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/02/23/national-democrats-name-columbia-mayor-chaz-molder-a-priority-candidate" target="_blank">Chaz Molder</a>, has a 3-to-1 fundraising advantage over Ogles.</li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying: </strong>Viet Shelton, a spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), projected confidence that all four of these districts are very much in play.</p><ul><li>"Vulnerable House Republicans mistakenly think that no matter how awful their behavior is, they are untouchable," he said in a statement.</li><li>"Voters in these districts are pissed over higher costs, Republicans' broken promises, and are ready to reject these scandal-plagued members, who've made voters' lives worse." </li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines:</strong> There's a chance Ogles, Mills and Miller don't make it to the general election.</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/30/republican-primary-andy-ogles-super-pac" target="_blank">Ogles</a> and Mills are both facing primary challenges from GOP rivals who have out-raised them.</li><li>Miller has until next week to withdraw from the ballot and Republicans are eyeing contingency plans in case he bows to growing pressure.</li></ul><p><strong>The bottom line: </strong>"If all four of them are on the ballot, it's a lot more of a pain in the ass," one GOP operative told Axios shortly before Edwards dropped his bid.</p>