GOP Rep. Max Miller loses Ohio re-election after abuse allegations

Ohio Democrat Brian Poindexter has defeated Republican Rep. Max Miller in the state's congressional race, according to NBC News projections. The outcome came months after Miller's ex-wife accused him of domestic abuse, allegations he denied but which became central to the campaign.

Poindexter, an ironworker and City Council member in Brook Park, a working-class Cleveland suburb, won a district that Donald Trump would have carried by 11 points in 2024. Democrats poured millions into the race, which they did not initially expect to compete in.

Miller, 37, served as a White House aide during Trump’s first term and was a campaign supporter. He initially sought to challenge then-Rep. Anthony Gonzalez in a 2022 GOP primary with Trump’s backing after Gonzalez supported Trump’s impeachment the previous year. Gonzalez retired instead, and Miller won a different seat after redistricting altered the state’s congressional map.

During that campaign, former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham accused Miller of physical abuse while they were dating, which he denied. In Congress, Miller remained a Trump ally but occasionally diverged on issues like tariffs and supported Ukraine’s war against Russia.

Miller’s ex-wife, Emily Moreno, accused him of holding a gun to her head, throwing hot water on her, and throwing her against a wall. These allegations were made public in court and in media. Miller denied the claims and released documents and audio of conversations with Moreno, as well as a social media livestream defending himself.

Moreno’s spokesperson called Miller’s denial a lie and stated that justice would prevail in court. Sen. Bernie Moreno, her father, criticized Miller’s behavior, saying he failed basic standards of character for elected office and should not serve in Congress.

Despite calls for resignation, Miller remained in the race. Meanwhile, Poindexter gained support from progressive Democrats like Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Ro Khanna, and later from Sen. Mark Kelly. Poindexter, who previously voted Republican, has supported Democratic policies and advocated for workers and union rights.

Republicans criticized Poindexter for past arrests, including a 1999 felony assault charge reduced to a misdemeanor and charges of disorderly conduct from fights at Browns games. Poindexter claimed he turned his life around after becoming a father at 22.