Max Miller Defeated in Ohio 7th District Amid Abuse Allegations

Max Miller is out. The two-term Republican congressman lost Ohio’s 7th District to Democrat Brian Poindexter. The margin was clear. With 88 percent of the vote counted, Poindexter held 54.6 percent. Miller trailed at 45.7 percent, according to the Associated Press.

The defeat followed a messy summer. In May, the Daily Mail broke a story about abuse allegations. Miller’s ex-wife, Emily Moreno, filed court documents accusing him of serious violence. She claimed he scalded her with hot water. She said he held a gun to her head. He also allegedly hit her.

The allegations grew worse. Moreno accused Miller of fracturing their two-year-old daughter’s collarbone. He has not faced criminal charges. Miller denies every claim. He denied them all.

The fallout hit hard within the party. Bernie Moreno, Emily’s father and a Republican Senator, weighed in during August. He stated Miller should not serve in the House. He added that Miller "needs serious psychological help."

Another former relationship complicated matters. Stephanie Grisham, a former Trump White House press secretary, dated Miller in 2019 and 2020. She also accused him of abuse. In July, she sued him.

Miller fought back legally. He sued both women for defamation. He asked the House Ethics Committee to investigate him. It was a strange move. He asked them to look into his own conduct.

He refused GOP pressure to quit. The August withdrawal deadline passed. He stayed in. Cook moved the race to Toss Up. Trump’s political team urged Ohio Republicans to avoid a public pressure campaign against Miller once it was clear he would remain.

The district leans Republican. Trump carried it by about 11 points in the 2024 presidential election. Yet, that did not save Miller. He had won Trump’s endorsement in May. But local dynamics shifted.

A Republican firm surveyed voters in early August. Poindexter led 47 percent to 33 percent. Miller’s support among Republicans sat below 70 percent. That is a dangerous number for a conservative stronghold.

Miller ran negative ads. He accused Poindexter of possessing crack cocaine. He claimed Poindexter was arrested for slapping a man at a baseball game. Poindexter, 47, responded with calm confidence. He is a union ironworker. He served as a Brook Park city councilman. He says he has been open about his record.

Miller conceded on Tuesday night via tweet. "I am disappointed at this evening’s election results," he wrote. He said he fought earnestly to represent his home and community in the Ohio 7th District.

Poindexter took the stage to claim victory. He spoke to supporters at an Ohio rally. "A lot of working people decided to put all our differences aside to unite around one of us," he said. He credited unity over big money. They beat the corporate PACs. They beat the nasty ads. They beat the powerful. They did it together.