Ohio Republican Rep. Max Miller vowed to remain in his reelection race on Sunday despite mounting domestic abuse allegations from his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, defying calls from fellow Republicans and Democrats to step aside ahead of a critical ballot deadline.
Miller announced his decision via livestream on X, denying all allegations and stating, “I’m not getting out of this race, and I’m winning in November.” He argued that no court or government agency has substantiated the abuse claims against him and that he has never faced criminal charges related to the allegations.
The allegations against Miller are serious. According to government documents reported by Mother Jones, Moreno has accused him of holding a gun to her head, pouring hot water from a skillet on her during a 2024 argument, and other violent behavior. Miller acknowledged spraying Moreno with a sink hose but denied the water was scalding and called the incident “horseplay.” He also denied assaulting her. Child welfare agencies deemed two reports that Miller abused his daughter as unsubstantiated, though one recorded an “indicated” finding of physical abuse, meaning investigators saw signs but lacked sufficient evidence. Police concluded there was “insufficient admissible evidence” to file charges.
The announcement triggered a stinging rebuke from Moreno’s father, Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), who said his former son-in-law was a “danger” to his daughter and granddaughter. “If there are any basic standards of character required to hold elected office, Max Miller fails them. He should not serve in the House of Representatives,” the senator wrote on X. Stefan Mychajliw, a spokesperson for Emily Moreno, called Miller’s livestream a “bizarre and lie-filled rant” and accused him of using their daughter as a “PR pawn.”
Miller’s decision to stay in the race comes as Aug. 5 approaches — the deadline for Ohio Republicans to trigger a special election to replace him on the ballot. If he withdraws after that date, the party cannot replace him. One potential replacement name floated by prominent Republicans is Jane Timken, a former GOP state chair and current state senator.
The situation mirrors but differs from a recent precedent. Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner in Maine ended his campaign in early July after a woman accused him of sexual assault — an allegation he denied. After Platner’s departure, Democrats had to scramble to find a replacement candidate. Miller’s refusal to follow that path has left his party in an awkward position, with many GOP leaders choosing silence over public statements.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-South Carolina) called the allegations “horrific” and said Miller should resign if they prove true. But most Republican colleagues have declined to comment or remained silent. Rep. Jim Jordan, perhaps the most prominent Ohio Republican in Congress, dismissed the matter as a “family matter” and said he was campaigning for Miller’s reelection. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna said she knows both Miller and Moreno and declined to disparage either.
Democrats, meanwhile, see an opportunity. The Cook Political Report has upped Democrats’ chances of taking the Cleveland-area seat, and the party’s campaign apparatus is already mobilizing. House Majority PAC, a super PAC aligned with Democratic leadership, has spent over $1 million in the Cleveland media market and signaled it would spend heavily to support Miller’s opponent, union ironworker Brian Poindexter, who has long raised the abuse allegations against the incumbent. “If all the allegations against Congressman Miller prove to be true, Max Miller should be in jail, not worried about retaining a seat in Congress,” Poindexter said in a statement.
Miller has previously faced abuse allegations. Former Trump White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham accused him of abuse, allegations he denied. He sued her for defamation but dropped the case as part of a 2023 settlement. Grisham sued Miller last month, arguing his recent public statements violated the settlement’s nondisparagement terms.
The Ohio seat, which covers the Cleveland area, backed President Trump by 11 percentage points in 2024. Miller is seeking his third term. His campaign spokesperson, Abigail Angelos, said the allegations are false and that the court has continued to permit him joint custody of his child, which she argued would not be the case if credible evidence supported the accusations. “Congressman Miller will continue to vigorously defend his reputation against false and reckless allegations designed to inflame public opinion rather than reflect reality,” she said.
Sources
- Axios — Miller’s livestream announcement and Sen. Moreno’s response; details on the allegations and ballot deadlines
- Politico — Government documents detailing specific abuse allegations; Republican silence and internal concerns; comparison to Graham Platner precedent; Aug. 5 ballot deadline
- The Guardian — Overview of allegations from ex-wife and ex-girlfriend
- Reuters — Sen. Moreno’s statement that Miller should not serve in Congress
- PBS NewsHour — Democratic Women’s Caucus call for House Ethics Committee investigation
