If Miller Withdraws Later, the Deadline to Replace Him Is 86 Days Prior to the Election, or August 10, Officials

Representative Max Miller plans to continue seeking a third term in Ohio's 7th Congressional District despite domestic violence allegations and mounting pressure to exit the race. Miller, who rebuffed calls on Tuesday to withdraw, said he intends to "finish" his reelection bid and predicted victory in November. President Donald Trump told the fellow Republican and former senior adviser a day earlier that his candidacy "doesn't look good, according to a source familiar with the conversation.

Emily Moreno, Miller's former spouse and daughter of Republican Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno, has accused the lawmaker of prior domestic abuse, including threatening her with a firearm and physical assault, which he has vehemently denied. Senator Moreno has called on his former son-in-law to step down, describing the ongoing custody battle for the couple's 2-year-old daughter as the "seventh level of hell" for his family. If a congressional candidate withdraws prior to 90 days of the election, or the close of business on Tuesday, a special primary election would be required, Ohio Secretary of State officials confirmed Wednesday to Newsweek.

If Miller withdraws later, the deadline to replace him is 86 days prior to the election, or August 10, officials said. "The county party chairs in the district would choose a replacement candidate, Ohio Secretary of State spokesman Ben Kindel wrote. Republican sources told WKYC that discussions to replace Miller are intensifying, with potential options including State Representative Mike Dovilla and former U.S. Representative Jim Renacci.

Internal Republican polling shows Miller trailing his Democratic opponent, Brian Poindexter, by 5 percentage points, with 16 percent of voters undecided, NOTUS reported. The district previously backed Trump by 11 points in 2024. Poindexter, an ironworker endorsed by Senator Bernie Sanders, has said no individual facing allegations of abuse "belongs in the halls of power, according to WKYC. Republicans have just a 31 percent chance of winning the race, down from an 87 percent peak in February, according to Polymarket data.

The Democratic Women's Caucus condemned Miller's actions, saying "the culture of power-hungry men who terrorize women on and off of the Hill must stop. Miller shared private images of his young daughter on social media on Sunday, including one his ex-wife's lawyer claims could be considered child sex abuse material; one of his attorneys later took responsibility for the error. Miller insisted he has "absolutely nothing to hide" and filed paperwork for an ethics investigation into himself.

The House Ethics Committee subsequently launched an investigation into whether Miller may have engaged in "domestic violence and abuse or illegal drug use. Miller appeared on CNN on Tuesday, insisting he committed no wrongdoing and has joint custody of his daughter. "I am never going to give up, he said, adding he expects reelection. A message seeking comment from Miller's spokesperson, Abigail Angelos, was not returned Wednesday.