Ohio Republican Rep. Max Miller Declines to Withdraw Amid Abuse Allegations
Despite accusations of domestic abuse and pressure from party leaders, Rep. Max Miller said he will remain in the congressional race, prompting a contested general-election campaign.
Representative Max Miller, a Republican from Ohio, announced he will stay in the race for his congressional seat despite allegations that he physically abused his ex-wife and daughter. His campaign spokeswoman, Abigail Angelos, confirmed the decision, which means the district will see a competitive general-election contest.
Ohio law requires a candidate to withdraw by Saturday evening to allow party chairs to name a replacement for the ballot by Monday afternoon. Miller’s refusal to step aside comes after party officials, including President Donald Trump, who called Miller to discuss his prospects, and state Senator Jon Husted, who called him unfit for office, urged him to resign.
Miller has denied the accusations, which allege he held a gun to his ex-wife’s head, threw scalding water at her and caused a fracture to his daughter’s collarbone. He has continued a media tour defending himself, citing President Trump’s decision to stay in office amid personal scandals as a model.
If he had withdrawn, a meeting would have been required by the end of Saturday to select a replacement candidate. Ashland County Republican Party chairman and mayor Matt Miller said no such meeting had been scheduled. In the November election, Miller is set to face Democrat Brian Poindexter, a union-affiliated ironworker who is expected to appeal to working-class voters in the Seventh District.