Max Miller refuses to end re-election bid as abuse allegations roil Ohio race
Ohio congressman Max Miller is staying on the November ballot despite domestic abuse allegations he denies and mounting pressure from fellow Republicans to quit his re-election race.
Max Miller, the Republican congressman for Ohio's 7th district, has refused to end his re-election campaign despite domestic abuse allegations from his ex-wife, which he denies. He ran uncontested in the May 5 primary and remains on the November ballot after Ohio's replacement deadline passed.
U.S. Representative Max Miller of Ohio is refusing to end his re-election campaign despite mounting pressure from fellow Republicans over domestic abuse allegations leveled by his ex-wife, which he denies. A spokeswoman confirmed he would remain in the race, according to the New York Times, even after President Donald Trump called him on a Monday as the pressure intensified. Miller, a Republican and former Trump administration appointee, has represented Ohio's 7th Congressional District since 2023. He ran uncontested in the May 5 Republican primary and faces Democratic nominee Brian Poindexter in November. According to USA Today, he is also facing an ethics probe. The stakes extend beyond one congressman. The Cook Political Report reportedly moved the race from Likely Republican to Toss Up, citing fallout from the allegations — turning a Republican-held seat into a competitive contest. The deadline to replace Miller on Ohio's ballot reportedly passed on Saturday, August 8, meaning his name will appear before voters regardless of what party leaders want.
Abuse allegations and Miller's denial
The allegations against Miller come from his ex-wife, identified in reporting as Emily Moreno — according to sources, the daughter of Senator Bernie Moreno. Miller denies the domestic abuse claims.
The congressman is also facing an ethics probe, according to reporting by USA Today. The scope and status of that inquiry have not been made clear.
The allegations surfaced as Miller sought re-election in Ohio's 7th Congressional District, where he ran uncontested in the May 5 Republican primary. He has served the district since 2023 and previously worked as a political appointee in the first Trump administration.
Sources disagree on the details surrounding the allegations, and the claims remain contested. Miller's denial stands in direct opposition to the account attributed to his ex-wife, and neither the ethics probe nor the underlying accusations have been resolved publicly. Where reporting rests on anonymous or single-source accounts, the claims remain allegations rather than established findings.
Republican pressure and Trump's call
Fellow Republicans pressed Miller to withdraw from the race, but he refused. President Donald Trump called the congressman on a Monday as that pressure mounted, according to reporting on the effort to push him out.
Sources told Axios that Miller could end his re-election bid by the end of that week. He did not. A spokeswoman for Miller confirmed he would remain in the race, according to the New York Times, and reports indicate he declined to step aside despite the calls to withdraw.
The chair of the Republican National Committee downplayed the abuse allegations against Miller and addressed whether the party would fund his campaign, according to reports of the chair's remarks. Whether national Republicans will ultimately spend on his behalf remains an open question.
Miller ran uncontested in the May 5 Republican primary for Ohio's 7th Congressional District, leaving the party without an alternative candidate as the pressure campaign unfolded.
A safe seat turns competitive
Whatever happens with the pressure campaign against him, Miller's name will be on the November ballot. Reports say the deadline to replace him in Ohio passed on Saturday, August 8, leaving Republicans with no procedural route to a substitute candidate even if he were to withdraw later. He will face Brian Poindexter, the Democratic nominee, in a district the party had treated as safely its own.
That assumption is now in doubt. The Cook Political Report moved its rating of the race from Likely Republican to Toss Up, citing fallout from the abuse allegations, according to reports. Miller ran uncontested in the May 5 Republican primary and has held the seat since 2023, following years of comfortable Republican control. His decision to stay in the race, confirmed by a spokeswoman to the New York Times, means the party must now defend a seat it once considered secure.
Max Miller began serving as the U.S. representative for Ohio's 7th congressional district.
Miller ran uncontested in the Republican primary for Ohio's 7th Congressional District.
President Donald Trump called Miller as pressure mounted for the congressman to end his reelection bid.
Sources told Axios that Miller could end his re-election bid by the end of that week.
The deadline to replace Miller on Ohio's ballot passed, meaning he will remain on the November ballot.
The dispute over photos of Miller's daughter
The allegations surrounding Miller have been compounded by a separate dispute involving his own legal team. According to reports, Miller's lawyer acknowledged accidentally sharing undressed images of Miller's young daughter during a legal dispute. A lawyer for Miller's ex-wife, Emily Moreno, described the photos as child sexual abuse material and demanded an explanation for how the images came to be shared. No explanation from Miller's lawyer has yet been made public. Emily Moreno is the daughter of Senator Bernie Moreno, according to reports, adding a further political dimension to a controversy that has already strained Miller's standing within his own party.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Max Miller, the Ohio congressman?
Max Miller is a Republican politician who has served as the U.S. representative for Ohio's 7th Congressional District since 2023. Before entering Congress, he worked as a political appointee in the first Trump administration. He ran uncontested in the May 5 Republican primary for his seat and is now seeking re-election while facing domestic abuse allegations, which he denies.
What are the abuse allegations against Max Miller?
Miller faces domestic abuse allegations that sources report were leveled by his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, who is reported to be the daughter of Senator Bernie Moreno. Miller denies the allegations. Separately, his lawyer reportedly acknowledged accidentally sharing undressed images of Miller's young daughter during a legal dispute; a lawyer for Moreno described the photos as child sexual abuse material and demanded an explanation.
Is Max Miller dropping out of his re-election race?
No. Despite pressure from fellow Republicans, Miller has refused to end his campaign, and a spokeswoman confirmed he would remain in the race, according to the New York Times. Sources told Axios he could drop out by the end of that week, but reports indicate the deadline to replace him on Ohio's ballot passed on Saturday, August 8, meaning he will remain on the November ballot.
What did Donald Trump say to Max Miller?
President Donald Trump called Miller on a Monday as pressure mounted for the congressman to end his re-election bid. The briefing does not say what Trump told Miller during the call or whether Trump asked him to withdraw. Miller, a former Trump administration appointee, has continued his campaign despite the pressure from within his party.
How have the allegations affected the Ohio 7th District race?
According to reports, the Cook Political Report moved its rating of the seat from Likely Republican to Toss Up, citing fallout from the domestic abuse allegations. Miller's continued candidacy has reportedly turned the Republican-held district into a competitive race. He faces Democratic nominee Brian Poindexter in November. Miller is also facing an ethics probe, according to reporting by USA Today.
Compiled from reporting by 7 independent outlets. How we source our reporting.
