Ohio Republican Rep. Max Miller is defying calls from his own party to drop his reelection bid, even as court filings accuse him of domestic violence, child abuse, and drug use, and a recent poll shows him trailing his Democratic challenger by 14 points.

Miller confirmed through a spokesperson that he will stay in the race, telling the New York Times, "I'm not dropping out of this race, and I'll win in November." The statement came as two Republican senators from his own state, Jon Husted and Bernie Moreno, publicly urged him to step aside, and as the House Ethics Committee opened a formal investigation into the allegations swirling around the second-term congressman.

The pressure is bipartisan and growing. Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas said Miller "should resign." Sen. Rick Scott of Florida said he "shouldn't be in office." Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, as the Washington Examiner reported, called the accusations "very serious" and said elected officials "need to be held to high standards." And the Democratic Women's Caucus formally demanded Miller's immediate resignation.

Miller, a former aide to President Trump during his first term, has denied every allegation. He compared his situation to Trump's own 2016 campaign, when the then-candidate weathered personal accusations and won anyway. But the comparison has limits. Trump carried Miller's northeast Ohio district by 11 points in 2024. A recent poll now shows Miller trailing Democratic challenger Brian Poindexter, a local city councilmember and union ironworker, by 14 points, with respondents showing high awareness of the allegations.

Court filings paint a disturbing picture of Miller's home life

Miller's ex-wife, Emily Moreno, the daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno, accused him in court filings of throwing boiling water at her during an argument on June 9, 2024, while their then-eight-month-old daughter was present. She also accused him of holding a gun to her head, shoving her against a wall, and fracturing their daughter's collarbone. The Daily Mail first reported the allegations in May and published photographs Moreno took of bruises on her arm, elbow, and torso.

A separate incident allegedly occurred on February 1, when Miller grabbed and struck Emily during a custody exchange at his Ohio home. Their two-year-old daughter Ruth was present.

Miller has denied all of it. He released a video addressing the claims, posted screenshots of text messages and emails on X, and dumped a trove of files including audio recordings. He has repeatedly stressed that Emily Moreno suffers from mental health issues, a claim her attorney has flatly rejected, calling Miller's legal tactics "a cynical attempt to weaponize the legal system against his ex-wife."

The couple reached a divorce settlement in June 2025, agreeing to joint custody and $2,500 per month in child support. That settlement has not stopped the public war between the two families.

Sen. Moreno went public with the blue bunny story, and it stuck

The most politically damaging moment may have been the simplest. Sen. Bernie Moreno told reporters that Miller withheld his granddaughter's stuffed blue bunny for 48 hours, the toy she sleeps with every night.

"This girl is crying at night because she can't sleep without her little blue bunny. And his answer is, 'I'm just not going to give it to you.' This is the level of total and complete depravity."

Miller disputed the timeline, claiming the bunny was returned within 14 hours. He posted screenshots on X showing he had agreed to a pickup arranged by the couple's parenting coordinator but refused to hand the toy to a family friend who was not on the approved exchange list. He demanded that Sen. Moreno collect it himself.

An Ohio political insider told the Daily Mail, "The American public shouldn't know about a child's blue bunny." The same source warned the situation was "only going to get uglier if he doesn't step aside."

Drug use allegations followed, and Miller's CNN interview raised more questions

Audio recordings Miller himself released captured his ex-wife confronting him about what she said she found near his bed.

"First it was weed, then I found needles next to your bed. I took a picture of it. You can try to deny it to me."

Miller repeatedly denied drug use in the recording, invoking his "Jewish word of honor." He told CNN's Jake Tapper that the last time he used illegal drugs was "several years ago," adding, "I don't have a time frame on it, but I don't use illegal drugs." He attributed the syringes to testosterone treatment.

The Daily Mail separately revealed photographs of a purported syringe in Miller's bedroom and images of him holding a bag of high-potency marijuana gummies. The House Ethics Committee investigation now covers both the domestic violence and drug abuse accusations. Miller himself called for that probe, a move that could be read as confidence or as a stalling tactic, depending on whom you ask.

Grisham's restraining order adds a second accuser to the record

Stephanie Grisham, the former White House press secretary who dated Miller in 2019 and 2020, filed a petition for a restraining order against him this week. Grisham first accused Miller of domestic abuse in 2021. He sued her for defamation; the pair settled and signed a non-disclosure agreement.

Grisham's attorney, Marc Dann, told the Ohio Capital Journal that "the settlement included certain promises that Congressman Miller made to our client Stephanie Grisham, and those promises were broken." Emily Moreno also filed a restraining order against Miller on Thursday. Miller has not commented on either filing.

As AP News reported, Sen. Moreno went further than any other Republican, stating that if "any basic standards of character" are required to hold office, "Max Miller fails them. He should not serve in the House of Representatives." Moreno also said Miller needs "serious psychological help."

Trump warned Miller but won't force him out

President Trump, who endorsed Miller in May, spoke to him by phone on Monday. Miller admitted Trump told him, "Maxi, it's going to be a tough race," and that Trump did not know if he could "pull this one out." Trump separately told reporters the allegations were "accusations" and said, "I'm going to let them figure that out."

By Thursday, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office he was "not going to get involved" with getting Miller out of the race. The White House did not respond to inquiries about whether Trump still stands by his endorsement. Senate Majority Leader John Thune also declined to call for Miller's resignation.

Miller has since poured resources into his campaign, signaling he means what he says about staying in. Ohio law required him to withdraw by Saturday to allow the party enough time for a replacement process before the Monday deadline. Party leaders had already floated former congressman Jim Renacci and state representative Mike Dovilla as potential substitutes. Miller let the deadline pass.

Democrats see an opening in a district Trump won by double digits

The Democratic Women's Caucus leaders, Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández, Hillary Scholten, and Emilia Sykes, issued a joint statement demanding Miller resign immediately, citing "growing evidence and clear lack of remorse." Democrats have also requested a congressional ethics investigation and signaled increased financial support for Poindexter.

Prediction markets reflect the broader damage. Kalshi projects Democrats have an 83 percent chance of controlling the House next year. Polymarket shows similar numbers. An anonymous Republican House member told the Daily Mail, "I have heard people are concerned and do not want to publicly support him as more comes out."

Ohio's congressional delegation has had a difficult stretch. Rep. Marcy Kaptur's recent hospitalization already drew national attention to the state's House seats. Miller's refusal to step aside now threatens to hand Democrats a district that should be safe Republican territory.

Sen. Husted, who said he knows Miller, Emily Moreno, and their daughter personally, posted on X that he did not "see how a campaign for Congress benefits any of them." He urged Miller to "step aside as a candidate and resign from Congress to focus on what is in the best interest of his daughter."

"Years from now, I believe he will look back and know it was the right choice for her."

Miller chose differently. And now his party, and the voters of northeast Ohio, will live with the consequences of that choice.