Ohio Congressman Max Miller is under intense scrutiny after his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, accused him of multiple acts of domestic abuse involving her and their young child. Miller has denied the allegations, blamed media and his former wife, and defended himself in an 18-minute statement and on CNN. The allegations prompted Senator Bernie Moreno to call for his resignation and have shaken Republican voters in a district that leans GOP, raising questions about whether the party will replace him on the ballot before the 12 August deadline. The controversy could influence Miller's November race against Democrat Brian Poindexter.
Ohio Republicans Reassess Rep. Max Miller After Domestic Abuse Allegations and Calls to Resign
Congressman Max Miller walks out of a meeting on Capitol Hill on 11 October 2023, in Washington DC.Photograph: Andrew Harnik/AP
David Griffith had been a registered Republican for years. But on a Sunday evening in Wooster, Ohio, he watched Rep. Max Miller deliver an 18-minute statement attempting to rebut serious allegations of domestic abuse involving Miller's ex-wife and their young child — and said the lawmaker no longer resembled the Republican he once supported.
"What I saw was a person who needs help," Griffith said, sitting on a bench in the quiet town at the southern edge of Miller's largely Republican congressional district. Griffith, who formally left the GOP last May and says he will vote a straight Democratic ticket this midterm, represents a growing unease among some longtime Republican voters.
Allegations and Responses
Emily Moreno, Miller's ex-wife and the daughter of Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno, has accused Miller of multiple violent acts, including pointing a gun at her head, pouring hot water on her and potentially causing a collarbone fracture to their two-year-old daughter. Moreno also alleges Miller physically assaulted her attorney and another legal representative. Miller has denied the allegations.
On X, Senator Bernie Moreno wrote: "He is a danger to my daughter, and I hold my breath every minute he has custody of my granddaughter."
In his public remarks, Miller blamed what he described as "leftwing media" and his former wife for a campaign to damage his reputation. He reiterated his denial during an appearance on CNN's Jake Tapper, questioning why police were not pursuing investigations.
Political Consequences
Before these allegations became public, Miller was seen as likely to retain his seat: June polling showed the district leaning Republican by about five points. Miller, 37, a former presidential aide in the Trump administration and a 2021 Trump endorsee, won his 2024 race by roughly 15 points in a contest where opposition votes were split. But the controversy has introduced uncertainty ahead of the midterm, and reports this week suggested even presidential support could be wavering.
The Ohio Republican Party has until 12 August to replace Miller on the ballot if local leaders decide to do so. That deadline — and the 92 days remaining until the election when these developments emerged — has intensified discussions among county GOP organizations about whether Miller can withstand the political fallout.
Local Reaction
Bill Heck, vice-chair of the Republican Party in Medina County, said party officials are trying to determine what allegations are credible and what Miller can refute. "There is so much stuff flying around that we have not been able to decipher what's real and what's not," he said, while acknowledging concern among Republican voters.
Several county Republican organizations did not respond to requests for comment. In contrast, Democrats and some local figures have criticized the party for prioritizing electoral considerations over ethical standards. Bill Bailey, a former judge and chair of the Wayne County Democratic Party, said many local Republicans are expressing dissatisfaction — pointing to primary results in which significant numbers of registered GOP voters supported independents or Democrats.
Background & Context
Miller, a former Marine Corps reservist seeking a third term, has previously faced accusations of violence toward women. Former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham alleged Miller pushed and slapped her when they dated; Miller has denied that claim as well. The Miller family is prominent in northeastern Ohio: Max's grandfather, Sam Miller, was a noted Cleveland real estate developer and philanthropist.
Wooster and Wayne County, about 60 miles south of Cleveland, were shaped by industrial decline and economic change that have bolstered populist sentiment. In the 2024 presidential election, Trump won roughly 70% of the vote in Wayne County; Wooster has not elected a Democratic mayor in decades.
In November, Miller is scheduled to face Democrat Brian Poindexter, a union ironworker from Brook Park. Political analysts say the district's Republican lean is not insurmountable for Democrats if national trends shift and the GOP nominee is weakened or replaced at the last minute.
For Griffith and other disillusioned voters, the Miller controversy is a turning point. "I have to believe people get involved in public service because they want to do good, regardless of party," Griffith said. "Max Miller is not one of those people."
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