The Dispute Looms Over Wednesday's Deadline for Ohio Republicans to Replace Miller As Their Nominee If He Withdraws

Republican Representative Max Miller says he will stay in Ohio's November race despite pressure from Senator Bernie Moreno, his former father-in-law, to quit over abuse allegations from Moreno's daughter, Emily. The dispute looms over Wednesday's deadline for Ohio Republicans to replace Miller as their nominee if he withdraws. Miller rejected calls to leave during a Sunday livestream, vowing to win another term and denying all claims.

The controversy has shaken one of northeast Ohio's most watched House races, boosting Democratic hopes of flipping a seat once seen as leaning Republican. National GOP leaders now face a choice: back Miller or push a late change before the deadline. Under Ohio law, Wednesday is the final day for the party to swap its congressional nominee if the current one steps aside; if Miller stays, Republicans are locked in with him.

Miller has categorically denied abusing his ex-wife or daughter, calling the accusations false and politically motivated. "I've been portrayed as an abusive husband, an abusive father, and a violent man. Those allegations have damaged my reputation, caused enormous pain to my family, and most importantly, it's affected our daughter, he said on X. He framed the race as about his family: "This election, to me, is about my family and about our daughter and keeping our values here and holding the media and other individuals accountable who have been incredibly reckless.

"I'm not getting out of this race, and I'm winning in November, the former White House aide added. Miller said Child Protective Services investigated allegations involving his daughter multiple times, closing each as unsubstantiated against him, including claims of physical abuse, a broken collarbone, and a hospital visit over suspected bruising. He cited a court-appointed parenting coordinator—a psychologist and mandatory reporter—who testified in a May deposition that she was not convinced he abused either his ex-wife or daughter and never reported harm to the child.

He argued his shared custody arrangement further undercut the claims. Miller "categorically" denied abusing his ex-wife, rejecting allegations he threw boiling water on Emily or held a gun to her head. He called the water incident "horseplay" from a kitchen sink sprayer that "does not reach boiling temperature or scalding, noting she sought no medical treatment, and labeled the firearm claim "absolutely outrageous" and "never happened.

He said a court granted him a domestic violence protection order after an ex parte hearing, and mentioned Moreno's mental health struggles, saying he hoped she got support. Miller called the dispute "painful" for their daughter and posted attorney documents on the allegations. No criminal charges have been filed against him, and the claims remain in ongoing legal proceedings. He also faces a lawsuit from former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, who alleges he violated a confidential settlement after he sued her for defamation over her abuse claims; he denies her underlying allegations and admits no wrongdoing."