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Democrats Target Max Miller’s Ohio House Seat as Abuse Allegations Mount/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Democrats see an opportunity to flip Republican Rep. Max Miller’s northeast Ohio district as allegations involving his former wife and an ex-girlfriend receive renewed scrutiny. Miller denies the abuse allegations and has filed defamation lawsuits, while House Democrats are seeking an ethics investigation and some have called for his resignation. Republicans continue supporting Miller, but Trump advisers are reportedly monitoring the race as Wednesday’s deadline for replacing him on the ballot approaches.

Quick Look

• Miller won Ohio’s 7th Congressional District with just over 51% in 2024.
• His former wife, Emily Moreno, has accused him of scalding, hitting and threatening her.
• Miller denies all allegations of abuse.
• He has sued Moreno for defamation.
• Child welfare investigators previously deemed several allegations involving his daughter unsubstantiated.
• Democrats have requested a congressional ethics investigation.
• Democratic Rep. Shontel Brown said it “would be wise” for Miller to resign.
• Union ironworker Brian Poindexter is the Democratic nominee.
• The House Majority PAC says it is monitoring the race.
• Miller has raised significantly more campaign money than Poindexter.
• A Republican strategist estimated Democrats would need about $2 million to compete effectively.
• Wednesday is the deadline for Republicans to replace Miller on the ballot.
• No Republican official has publicly called for his replacement.
• Former Trump press secretary Stephanie Grisham has filed a separate lawsuit against Miller.
• Trump’s advisers are reportedly monitoring developments.

Deep Look

Democrats identify possible Ohio pickup opportunity

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Democrats are directing new attention toward a Republican-held congressional district in northeast Ohio as Rep. Max Miller confronts mounting scrutiny over domestic abuse allegations that he denies.

With only a narrow route to gaining control of the U.S. House, Democrats are searching for opportunities beyond the most competitive districts already targeted by both parties.

Miller’s 7th Congressional District could become one of those opportunities.

The former Trump White House adviser won reelection in 2024 with slightly more than 51% of the vote, leaving Democrats hopeful that controversy surrounding his personal and legal disputes could make him vulnerable in November.

Miller denies abuse allegations

Miller’s former wife, Emily Moreno, has accused him of scalding, hitting and threatening her during their marriage.

Miller has denied those allegations and filed a defamation lawsuit against Moreno.

He has also pursued legal action against another woman who accused him of abuse.

The allegations have been public for several years but have received increased media and political attention as Miller and Moreno engage in an escalating legal dispute.

Moreno is the daughter of Republican U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio.

Democrats call for resignation and investigation

During the past week, Democratic lawmakers have called for Miller to resign and asked the House Ethics Committee to investigate the allegations.

Party organizations are also considering whether to direct additional financial resources toward Democratic nominee Brian Poindexter, a union ironworker.

The House Majority PAC, a super PAC working to elect a Democratic House majority, said it is watching the race as it considers expanding its map into Republican-leaning districts.

Greater spending from national Democratic groups could help Poindexter advertise across a district divided among several media markets.

Republicans continue supporting Miller

Republicans have so far remained publicly supportive of Miller.

They argue that he has delivered results for constituents and remains capable of winning the Republican-leaning district.

Trump won the district decisively in 2024, giving Miller a significant partisan advantage despite his relatively narrow margin that year.

President Donald Trump’s closest political advisers are actively monitoring the situation, according to a Republican familiar with White House discussions who spoke anonymously because of the issue’s political sensitivity.

The deadline to replace Miller on the November ballot is Wednesday. No prominent Republican has publicly called for the party to take that step.

DeWine calls allegations “very serious”

Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine told the Ohio Capital Journal that the accusations against Miller were “very serious.”

DeWine nevertheless said voters should decide whether Miller remains in Congress.

Republicans are defending a narrow House majority, meaning the loss of a normally favorable Ohio district could have national consequences.

The political risk is heightened because the allegations are receiving more attention just months before Election Day.

Republican strategist says Miller remains favored

Terry Casey, a veteran Republican political consultant in Ohio, said Miller remains in a strong position because of the district’s Republican lean.

Casey said the race would become more competitive only if Poindexter received enough national money to communicate with voters across multiple television markets.

The National Republican Congressional Committee declined to say whether it would match a major increase in Democratic spending.

Miller has raised substantially more money than Poindexter. The Democrat’s campaign, however, says its social media following has grown rapidly during the latest controversy.

Democrats request House ethics inquiry

Democratic Rep. Shontel Brown of Cleveland said it “would be wise” for Miller to resign.

The House Democratic Women’s Caucus formally requested an ethics investigation.

An ethics investigation could examine Miller’s conduct, but the allegations have not been proven in court, and Miller denies them.

Child’s broken collarbone enters legal dispute

Recent reporting by Mother Jones disclosed another point of contention involving Miller and Moreno’s 2-year-old daughter.

The child suffered a broken collarbone, prompting Moreno to contact authorities.

Miller and Moreno offered different explanations for how the injury occurred, according to court documents and police reports reviewed by the magazine.

The couple married in 2022 and finalized their divorce in 2025.

The latest reports have increased pressure on Miller but have not resulted in criminal charges announced in the supplied report.

Previous child welfare allegations deemed unsubstantiated

Last spring, Miller’s spokesperson supplied The Associated Press with documents showing that the Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services investigated several allegations that Miller had abused his daughter.

The agency classified those allegations as unsubstantiated.

That finding does not resolve all claims in the broader dispute, but it forms a central part of Miller’s response to allegations involving his child.

Miller did not respond to recent requests for comment sent to his campaign, congressional office and personal phone.

Bernie Moreno focuses on daughter and granddaughter

Sen. Bernie Moreno declined to address the specific allegations made by his daughter or Miller’s responses.

His spokesperson, Reagan McCarthy, said the senator’s priority was protecting his family.

The dispute creates an unusual political situation involving two elected Ohio Republicans connected through a bitter family conflict.

Moreno seeks restraining order involving her attorney

The legal confrontation escalated Thursday when attorneys for Emily Moreno requested a temporary restraining order preventing Miller from contacting her lawyer, Andrew Zashin.

The filing alleges that Miller shouted insults at Zashin outside a court proceeding in May and challenged him to “Come at me!”

It also alleges that Miller physically grabbed Zashin during another proceeding Tuesday.

The filing quotes Miller’s own attorney as saying his client “just can’t control himself.”

The attorney did not return a request for comment. The allegations contained in the filing have not been adjudicated.

Stephanie Grisham files separate lawsuit

Miller is also facing a lawsuit from former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, whom he previously dated.

Grisham filed the case in July, accusing Miller of violating a confidential settlement agreement resolving an earlier defamation lawsuit he brought against her.

Miller’s lawsuit involved statements in Grisham’s book and a Washington Post opinion article. She wrote that a former White House employee, later publicly identified as Miller, physically abused her during their relationship.

The book did not provide detailed allegations.

Miller has denied allegations of abuse and had accused Grisham of defaming him.

Grisham alleges settlement violation

Grisham’s new lawsuit, filed July 7, alleges that Miller violated their agreement not to disparage each other.

She contends that Miller improperly brought her name into his dispute with Moreno.

The lawsuit adds another legal complication for Miller during an election year and contributes to Democrats’ argument that his personal controversies could distract from his congressional duties.

Its claims remain subject to litigation.

Poindexter sees potential path to victory

Poindexter could win an upset if the allegations persuade some Republican-leaning voters to support him or discourage them from participating.

He has been endorsed by independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Poindexter said law enforcement should fully investigate the allegations against Miller.

His conditional statement underscores that the allegations have not been established as fact.

Controversy could distract from economic message

Jim Trakas, a former Ohio legislator and former Republican Party chair in northeast Ohio, said the timing of the latest developments creates political difficulties for Miller.

Republicans would prefer to campaign on inflation, jobs, taxes and the economy rather than respond to allegations involving their nominee.

Democrats must now decide whether the district offers a realistic pickup opportunity or whether Miller’s partisan advantage remains too large to overcome.

The answer may depend on the outcome of pending legal disputes, national campaign spending and whether the allegations change the behavior of Republican-leaning voters before November.

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