Deadline passes for Rep. Max Miller to be replaced on Ohio ballot as he
faces domestic abuse claims
[August 11, 2026]
By JULIE CARR SMYTH and THOMAS BEAUMONT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Embattled Republican Rep. Max Miller is staying in
the race for his Ohio congressional district, defying voices within his
own party who urged him to step aside as he faced domestic abuse
allegations from his ex-wife.
His determination to press on with his reelection campaign is creating
headaches for a Republican Party that had not planned to devote
attention to defending the seat in this year's midterm elections. His
Democratic challenger, union ironworker Brian Poindexter, seized on
Miller's controversies by appealing to voters with a promise to “serve
with honor.”
Monday presented the last chance for Republicans to replace Miller on
the general election ballot in Ohio, leaving the congressman in what is
increasingly seen as a competitive race.
Democratic groups supporting U.S. House campaigns have been closely
watching the race for Ohio's 7th Congressional District, just south of
Cleveland, to see if they want to ramp up their support for Poindexter.
President Donald Trump won the GOP-leaning district comfortably two
years ago. Miller won it with just 51% of the vote two years ago in a
three-way contest that included former congressman and presidential
candidate Dennis Kucinich, who ran as an independent. Under Ohio's
current maps, the district leans 55%-44% Republican, according to Dave's
Redistricting.
Miller, 37, has said he is confident he can pull out a win, given those
odds and the goodwill he said he has built with constituents over his
two terms. While both of Ohio's senators, including his former
father-in-law, Sen. Bernie Moreno, called on him to drop out of the
race, Trump never did.
The Republican president called Miller “a good person” and said his
legal dispute with Emily Moreno is best left to the families to figure
out. Miller was a senior aide to Trump during his first term as
president.
In a CNN interview last week, Miller said the president told him that if
he stayed in, “it’s going to be a tough race.” Republican National
Committee Chairman Joe Gruters suggested the party would back Miller but
stopped short of saying it would spend on his campaign.
“We're going to support our nominees. Everybody has to prove they are
capable of winning," Gruters said during a Sunday appearance on NewsMax.
“We'll see. I hope that he can.”
It was unclear Monday if Republican groups invested in House races, such
as the National Republican Campaign Committee or the super PAC
Congressional Leadership Fund, would spend on Miller's behalf.
Miller last week said he was prepared to spend more of his own money on
his campaign.
[to top of second column]
|
Rep.-elect Max Miller, R-Ohio, arrives for new member orientation
check-in and program registration with Emily Moreno in Washington,
Nov. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades, File)
“I know there are people that are concerned about my ability to win
this race right now, but I don't share that,” Miller said in a
statement to The Wall Street Journal for a report on him infusing $1
million of his own money into the campaign. “I am invested in this
election in every way, and I will invest the resources into my
campaign to win."
Democratic groups such as the Democratic Congressional Campaign
Committee and House Majority PAC were debating Monday whether to
include the race among their midterm spending priorities
The race has been drawing increasing attention over the past month
amid scrutiny of previous abuse allegations made against Miller by
his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, and at least two other women. Some of his
attempts to defend himself also have drawn backlash.
At the same time, Democrats have been heartened by Poindexter's
prospects. The 46-year-old Brook Park city councilman has campaigned
on pocketbook issues and won union endorsements from the Ironworkers
International, United Auto Workers, AFSCME, Ohio AFL-CIO and others.
Poindexter on Monday sought to capitalize on Miller's controversies
by welcoming voters across the political spectrum to support his
campaign.
“It’s unfortunate that Miller has chosen to keep putting his ex-wife
and her family through this nightmare in the public spotlight," he
said in a statement. “But let me be perfectly clear. I got into this
campaign to fight for my neighbors and for working people across
this district.”
Miller did not return messages seeking comment.
Miller was the first person Trump endorsed as he sought to punish
fellow Republicans who voted in favor of his impeachment over the
Jan. 6, 2021, violent assault on the U.S. Capitol or blocked his
efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which was won
by Democrat Joe Biden. The then-32-year-old jumped in to challenge
Ohio Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, a popular former professional football
player, who ultimately dropped out.
___
Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa.
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
