Republican Representative Max Miller is facing renewed scrutiny over allegations made by his ex-wife as Democrats look to capitalize on signs that Ohio’s 7th Congressional District may be more competitive than expected heading into the 2026 midterms.
Newsweek reached out to Miller for comment on Tuesday morning via email.
Key Points
- Miller has denied allegations of domestic abuse made by his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, describing the claims as false and politically motivated amid an ongoing custody dispute.
- Concerns about Miller’s political standing have reportedly reached the highest levels of the Republican Party, The New York Times reports.
- A June poll commissioned by Democratic-aligned interests found Miller leading Democratic nominee Brian Poindexter by just one point, 44 percent to 43 percent, within the survey’s margin of error.
- The Cook Political Report recently shifted the midterm race from “Solid Republican” to “Likely Republican.”
- Prediction markets show a highly competitive contest, with Kalshi now giving Poindexter a slight edge and Polymarket similarly showing only a narrow Democratic advantage, shifting in the space of just 24 hours.
- Ohio’s 7th Congressional District backed President Donald Trump by roughly 11 points in the 2024 presidential election, making any competitive race a potential warning sign for Republicans.
Why It Matters
Ohio’s 7th District has traditionally been viewed as Republican-leaning territory. Trump carried the seat by double digits in 2024, helping establish Miller as a relatively safe incumbent.
Recent polling and race-rating changes, however, suggest Democrats may have a path to competitiveness if national conditions continue moving against Republicans.
Allegations Draw Renewed Attention
Fresh attention has focused on Miller after reporting from CNN and Rolling Stone highlighted abuse allegations made by his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, the daughter of Republican Senator Bernie Moreno. Miller firmly denies these.
“They’re false allegations. Our divorce was finalized in December 18 in ’25. No police reports were ever filed,” Miller told Spectrum News in response. “Once again, we’re talking about a woman who sadly isn’t all there.”
Miller has alleged Moreno has bipolar disorder. Moreno has no diagnosis of bipolar disorder, according to her attorney, Subodh Chandra.
According to court filings and police interviews previously reported by multiple outlets, Moreno accused Miller of several instances of abuse during their marriage, including claims that he threatened her with a firearm and physically assaulted her.
Miller has repeatedly denied the allegations and has argued they are false and linked to an ongoing legal and custody dispute between the former couple.
According to The New York Times, officials in Trump’s political operation and within the White House have privately expressed concern that the controversy could hurt Miller’s reelection prospects and complicate Republican efforts to defend the district.
Miller dismissed such concerns, telling The Times: “Texas is turning blue like I’m losing my seat.”
The newspaper also reported that Republicans close to Trump had seen private polling that raised concerns about Miller’s standing, while Democrats have grown increasingly optimistic about their chances of competing for the seat.
Newsweek contacted the White House via email outside of regular working hours on Wednesday morning to ask about these reports.
No criminal charges have resulted from the allegations, and Miller has maintained that he will clear his name. Because the claims remain disputed, they have not been proven in court.
The controversy comes as Democrats increasingly view Ohio’s 7th District as a potential pickup opportunity in a year when they need relatively few seats to threaten Republican control of the House.
Voters in Ohio could find themselves at the center of one of the more closely watched House races of the 2026 midterm cycle.
A Surprisingly Close Poll
While the allegations have generated headlines, the political question is whether they are affecting Miller’s standing with voters.
A survey highlighted by the Ohio Democratic Party on June 23 found Miller and Democratic nominee Brian Poindexter effectively tied. The poll showed Miller receiving 44 percent support compared with 43 percent for Poindexter.
According to the polling data, Poindexter held a 17-point advantage among self-described independents.
The survey was conducted by GBAO, a Democratic polling firm, between June 18 and June 20 among 500 likely voters. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
That means Miller’s one-point lead falls within the poll’s margin of error, making the race statistically tied.
The survey also found Trump underwater in the district despite carrying it comfortably in 2024. Respondents gave the president a 44 percent approval rating and a 54 percent disapproval rating.
Race Ratings Shift Toward Democrats
Perhaps more concerning for Republicans than any single poll was a recent ratings change from the Cook Political Report.
Earlier this summer, Cook moved Ohio’s 7th Congressional District from “Solid Republican” to “Likely Republican,” signaling that respected election analysts consider the race more competitive than previously believed.
For students of House elections, rating shifts often matter more than individual surveys because they reflect broader trends, fundraising, candidate quality, and national political conditions rather than a single snapshot in time.
A move from Solid Republican to Likely Republican does not make Democrats favorites. It does, however, place the seat more firmly on the political map.
Who Is Brian Poindexter?
Poindexter, a union ironworker and Brook Park city councilman, emerged from a crowded Democratic primary earlier this year.
His campaign has focused heavily on economic issues, healthcare and support for organized labor.
Democrats have also attempted to link Miller to unpopular national Republican policies and to Trump’s standing with swing voters.
Until recently, Poindexter was viewed as a long-shot challenger in a district that consistently leaned Republican.
That assessment may now be changing.
Prediction Markets Have a Toss-Up Feel
Political prediction markets also suggest growing uncertainty—and now point to a slight Democratic advantage.
On Kalshi, traders most recently gave Poindexter a 53 percent chance of winning the race, compared with 47 percent for Miller, a notable reversal from the previous day when Miller held the edge.
Polymarket also continues to show a closely divided contest, with Republican (45 percent) and Democratic (49 percent) chances separated by only a few percentage points, also a flip from the day before, when the GOP had a narrow edge.
Prediction markets should not be viewed as polls. Instead, they reflect trader expectations and often incorporate polling, fundraising data, news events and broader political sentiment.
While Ohio’s 7th District remains Republican-leaning on paper, the shift on Kalshi suggests some market participants believe the race has become significantly more competitive amid continued scrutiny of Miller and signs of softness in Republican support.
What Happens if Max Miller Drops Out of Ohio Race
A growing question surrounding the race is what would happen if Miller were to withdraw from the contest.
Under Ohio law, a party can replace its nominee if a vacancy is filled and certified by the deadline set in state election law—86 days before the general election, which falls on August 9 this year.
After that point, replacing a candidate becomes significantly more complicated. Ohio law provides a mechanism for parties to fill vacancies before the deadline through party committees.
Prediction markets have even begun betting on the scenario. Polymarket recently launched a market asking whether Miller will withdraw from Ohio’s 7th District race before August 9, highlighting growing uncertainty surrounding the congressman’s political future, putting the odds currently at a 61 percent chance.
There is no indication that Miller plans to leave the race. He has repeatedly rejected suggestions that his candidacy is in jeopardy and has dismissed concerns about his reelection prospects.
Can Democrats Really Flip the Seat?
Ohio’s 7th District remains a difficult target for Democrats.
Yet midterm elections are often shaped by national moods, presidential approval ratings and candidate-specific factors.
If Republican support softens among independents and Trump’s standing remains weak in the district, Democrats could keep the race competitive.
But Miller has forcefully rejected suggestions that his reelection bid is in trouble, telling The New York Times: “Take a hike. After I win by more than my district, don’t bother ever contacting me again,” in a series of text messages responding to questions about whether the seat was becoming vulnerable.
For now, the available evidence points to a district that remains Republican-leaning but is showing more warning signs for the GOP than many analysts expected at the start of the cycle.
Whether those signs develop into a genuine pickup opportunity will likely depend on both the national political environment and whether the controversy surrounding Miller continues to dominate the race in the months ahead.
Update 7/29/26, 04:18 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with further information.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Ben Kelly and Tony Phillips