Ohio Republican Rep. Max Miller will remain on the ballot for his reelection campaign after Trump administration officials privately urged party leaders to stop pressuring him to withdraw following domestic abuse allegations.
Miller, who denies the accusations, has plummeted in polls as Democrats see an opportunity to flip his Ohio district in November. The latest Tavern Research poll shows Miller trailing his Democratic opponent, Brian Poindexter, by 8 points (54%-46%), despite President Trump winning the district by 11 points in 2024.
White House Intervenes to Keep Miller on Ballot
Trump officials dispatched their political team to Ohio last week to discourage Republicans from continuing a public pressure campaign against Miller, according to three people familiar with the matter cited by Politico. One Ohio Republican involved in the discussions told Politico, “They basically told us to back off and let the voters decide.”
The intervention came after multiple Republicans, including Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno—Miller’s ex-father-in-law—called for him to drop out. Moreno stated Miller was unfit to serve following allegations that Miller physically abused his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, and their toddler daughter. The accusations include claims that Miller threw hot water at her, held a gun to her head, pushed her against a wall, and fractured their child’s collarbone, per court filings and police interviews reported by multiple outlets.
Miller has vehemently denied all allegations, with a spokesperson stating, “The facts speak for themselves: the court has continued to permit him joint custody of his child. If there were credible evidence supporting these outrageous accusations, that simply would not be the case.”
Legal Deadline Passes Without Replacement
Miller’s name could not be removed from the ballot after the Monday 4 p.m. EDT deadline to withdraw passed, leaving Ohio Republicans with no legal mechanism to replace him. State law required a two-day notice period for any replacement meeting, meaning Miller would have had to drop out by Saturday at the latest to allow for a new nominee.
Republicans had explored scheduling a meeting to select a replacement, hoping it might convince Miller to withdraw, but abandoned the effort after Trump’s team intervened. The Daily Caller reported that Trump had personally warned Miller about his political future but did not publicly call for his withdrawal.
Polling Shows Miller’s Vulnerability
The Tavern Research poll, conducted after the withdrawal deadline passed, indicates Miller faces an uphill battle. Among voters asked how the allegations affected their view of Miller, 65% said they felt more negative, while 6% felt more positive and 29% said the allegations made no difference.
Democrats now view Ohio’s 7th District—a seat Trump carried by 11 points—as a top flip opportunity, citing Miller’s scandals, Trump’s declining national approval, and cost-of-living concerns as factors. The Cook Political Report still labels the district as “likely Republican,” but Republicans privately acknowledge the race has become more competitive and potentially costly.
GOP Strategists Weigh Financial Impact
A senior GOP strategist told the Washington Examiner that Miller’s continued candidacy “is not helpful, that’s for sure,” noting that Republicans are already financially stretched defending two Ohio seats held by Democrats. If Miller loses, Republicans may need to redirect resources from other races to hold the seat.
Some GOP operatives downplayed the risk, pointing to Democrats’ own financial challenges. “It is a very Republican district, and we’ll see if Democrats actually have the resources to spend,” one operative said.
Miller’s Campaign Continues Despite Scrutiny
Miller’s campaign has not publicly addressed the polling deficit but has repeatedly denied the abuse allegations. His spokesperson emphasized that court rulings have allowed him to maintain joint custody of his child, arguing that credible evidence would have prevented this.
The Newsweek poll, which showed Poindexter leading, was conducted among likely voters in Ohio’s 7th District, a mix of suburban and rural areas near Cleveland. The race remains fluid as both campaigns prepare for the final stretch of the election.