Democrats are signaling a potential opportunity to flip a House seat in northeast Ohio as Republican incumbent Max Miller faces escalating domestic abuse allegations from his ex-wife. The allegations, which Miller denies, have intensified scrutiny on the congressman and drawn calls for his resignation.
The race in Ohio's 7th Congressional District, which Miller won with just over 51% of the vote two years ago, is being closely watched by Democrats seeking to regain control of the U.S. House. The House Majority PAC, a Democratic super political action committee, stated it is monitoring the race and is prepared to allocate resources to challenge Miller.
"HMP is willing to do whatever it takes to take back the House, and nothing is off the table," said spokesperson CJ Warnke.
Miller, a former White House adviser under President Donald Trump, has denied the abuse allegations and has filed defamation lawsuits against his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, who is the daughter of U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), and another accuser. Republicans, including Gov. Mike DeWine, have largely supported Miller, with DeWine stating that the accusations are troubling but that voters should decide his fate. A Republican consultant suggested that for the Democratic challenger, union ironworker Brian Poindexter, to be competitive, significant financial investment, estimated at around $2 million, would be necessary.
Miller has outraised Poindexter, though the Democratic campaign reported a recent surge in social media followers. The National Republican Congressional Committee has not commented on whether it would counter any Democratic spending.
The accusations center on claims by Moreno that Miller scalded, hit, and threatened her during their marriage. A recent report highlighted a dispute over a broken collarbone on their 2-year-old daughter, with differing accounts from Miller and Moreno regarding the injury's cause, according to court filings and police reports. Earlier this year, allegations that Miller had abused his daughter were investigated by the Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services and found to be unsubstantiated, according to documentation provided by his spokesperson.
Further complicating the situation, lawyers for Emily Moreno recently asked for a temporary restraining order against Miller, alleging he made threats and physically grabbed her attorney during court proceedings. Court filings quote Miller's own lawyer as stating his client "just can’t control himself."
In a separate legal development, Miller's ex-girlfriend, Stephanie Grisham, filed a lawsuit alleging Miller violated a settlement agreement. Grisham accused Miller of bringing her into his dispute with Moreno and breaching their agreement not to disparage each other. This stems from Grisham's previous allegations of physical abuse by Miller, which he had sued her over.
Poindexter has stated that if the allegations against Miller are proven true, the congressman should be imprisoned rather than serving in Congress. Republican officials acknowledge the allegations create a difficult dynamic for Miller as the election approaches, forcing him to divert attention from campaign issues to address the accusations.