Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick could face expulsion. Will her defiance cause problems for vulnerable Democrats in November?

More and more House colleagues are calling for U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick to resign.

That includes fellow Democrats concerned after a House Ethics panel affirmed 25 allegations against the Miramar Democrat, many involving funneling millions into her campaign account. But so far, no Democrat in her home state delegation has called for her to quit.

U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, a Kissimmee Democrat, said he certainly is paying attention to proceedings.

“I remain very concerned about these ethics violations and will keep an open mind on future votes,” he said.

That’s more than he said in December, shortly after Cherfilus-McCormick was indicted by a grand jury for stealing $5 million in disaster funding. Then, he said of Cherfilus-McCormick and a Florida Republican facing his own scandals that “both will have a due process.”

Importantly, the process in House Ethics is still playing out for Cherfilus-McCormick. An adjudicatory panel affirmed allegations but will consider sanctions, which could include expulsion, at a later date. The matter must still go before the full House Ethics Committee any punishment gets debated on the House floor.

But the National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC), the political arm of House Republicans, pounced on silence from any Florida lawmakers as problematic. The NRCC has targeted both Soto and U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Parkland Democrat, in the November Midterms and said each must speak clearly on the issue.

“Out of touch Jared Moskowitz and Darren Soto have been carrying water for their corrupt, taxpayer-thieving colleague,” said NRCC Spokeswoman Maureen O’Toole. “Cherfilus-McCormick is guilty, and Moskowitz and Soto must stand up for Florida taxpayers and call on her to resign.”

Moskowitz did not respond to a request for comment.

Republican delegation mates from Florida haven’t hesitated to demand the Democrat’s departure.

U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, a Stuart Republican whose district borders Cherfilus-McCormick’s, said it’s time for his neighbor to leave her post.

“People here always love to say, well, let the Ethics process play out first, then after Ethics plays out, then we’ll decide,” Mast said. “Well, it sounds like that process has played out in terms of finding guilt, and the response should be, ‘It’s time to go.’”

One Democrat in agreement is Elijah Manley, a Democrat challenging Cherfilus-McCormick in the Primary who attended her Washington trial in person.

“It’s clear she should resign,” he said. “I learned there was so much more to the scheme.”

He suggested that Cherfilus-McCormick creates problems for all Democrats the longer she stays in office. He noted that the House expelled former U.S. Rep. George Santos, a New York Republican, in 2023 after House Ethics findings were released but before he pled guilty to federal wire fraud charges. Santos notably was ejected before his matter went to an adjudicatory trial.

“It looks bad for the entire Democratic caucus the longer she takes to resign,” he said, “and the harder she makes it for me to fight for a Special Election to replace her.”