Warning signs flash as House scandals threaten to undo GOP 'cheating' scheme: ex-lawmaker

Republicans spent much of the 2026 cycle frantically redrawing congressional maps in states they control to give themselves extra seats, at President Donald Trump's direction.

But those efforts could be gravely sabotaged, former Republican Congressman-turned-Democratic commentator Joe Walsh said on MS NOW, as major scandals rock House incumbents like Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) and put generally safe Republican seats in play anyway.

Anchor Erielle Reshef noted for Walsh that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is largely standing behind these embattled incumbents. "He can't think that this is ... a good thing," she said.

"No, it's not a good thing," said Walsh. But the key thing to know, he said, is that "all of these Republicans have learned from Trump. So whenever scandals came up with Trump — Trump abusing women, harassing women — what would Trump do? He would just lie about it and deny it. Blame the victim, attack the media, never back down. Never apologize."

Miller, as well as other accused abusers like Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL), think they can save themselves with this strategy, said Walsh, but they're only "putting these seats at risk."

"They're going to do whatever they can to stay in this race and lie about the charges and deny the charges and attack the media," said Walsh. "But that in a year like this ... when Republicans started the whole mid-decade redistricting, cheating, some of these scandalous Republicans are going to level the playing field here. This could cost them a few of these seats."

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