Republican Rep. Max Miller of Ohio resisted pressure Wednesday to exit his congressional reelection campaign amid mounting scrutiny over domestic abuse allegations and a congressional ethics investigation. Despite dwindling party confidence and a looming Monday ballot-replacement deadline, Miller insisted he will stay in the race.
The second-term congressman faces a congressional ethics investigation opened Tuesday into whether he engaged in domestic violence, abuse, or illegal drug use. The probe follows renewed public attention on a long-running custody and divorce battle with his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, the daughter of apnews.com apnews.com.
Miller Defies Withdrawal Pressure Ahead of Ohio Ballot Deadline
Miller has flatly rejected calls to step aside, appearing in a series of broadcast interviews and a weekend livestream on X to push back against critics within his own party. I’m not going anywhere,
Miller told CNN on Wednesday, maintaining that he retains strong backing in his district and sufficient financial support to run a viable campaign.
“There’s no chance that I’m removing myself from this race.”
Rep. Max Miller, via AP News
Under Ohio election rules, any candidate replacement by the Republican Party requires a formal withdrawal by Saturday to allow for the mandatory 48-hour notice before a meeting of GOP county chairs from the four counties in the district, setting a strict Monday afternoon deadline. While some senior House Republican campaign strategists privately worry that Miller’s electability has vanished, local party figures like longtime Ohio Republican consultant Terry Casey noted that the district is Republican-leaning, leaving Miller in a position to win if challengers fail to secure significant funding.
Legal Disputations and Family Divisions
The current controversy stems from enduring accusations first brought to light years ago. Emily Moreno alleged that Miller scalded, hit, and threatened her during their marriage, claims that Miller has consistently denied. The dispute drew further attention following a recent report regarding a broken collarbone sustained by their two-year-old daughter, an injury that prompted Emily Moreno to contact local authorities and led to contrasting explanations in court filings and police reports. Miller has denied any involvement in the incident and has filed defamation lawsuits against his ex-wife and a second accuser, former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham.
The fallout has reached deep into political and familial ties. Sen. Bernie Moreno has publicly stated that the congressman lacks the basic standards of character required to hold office. A spokeswoman for the senator, Reagan McCarthy, emphasized that the senator’s top priority remains the safety and well-being of his daughter and granddaughter, declining further comment on the underlying allegations.
White House Monitoring and Democratic Strategy
While President Donald Trump’s inner circle is closely monitoring the situation as part of broader efforts to maintain the narrow GOP majority in the U.S. House, Miller recounted discussing his reelection prospects directly with Trump. According to Miller, the former president remarked, I don’t know if you’re going to be able to, you know, pull this one out.
Despite that exchange, Miller asserted he would remain in the contest even if asked directly by Trump to step aside.
Democrats, meanwhile, view the race as a prime pickup opportunity in their bid to retake the House during the midterms. Miller’s Democratic opponent, union ironworker apnews.com, has seized on the controversy, backed by an endorsement from U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. House Democratic leaders, including U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown, have called for Miller’s resignation, while the House Democratic Women’s Caucus pushed for the formal ethics review now underway. Federal election filings indicate Miller holds a financial advantage with roughly $2.1 million raised compared to Poindexter’s $603,000, though outside groups like the House Majority PAC indicate they are closely evaluating the district’s shifting dynamics.