Rep. Max Miller (R-OH), who in recent days has faced mounting pressure to drop his re-election campaign amid accusations of abuse, confirmed to The New York Times Saturday that he would stay in the race, a move that GOP leadership fears could hand Democrats an easy midterm victory.
Miller has been accused of physically abusing his ex-wife and 2-year-old daughter, allegations he’s vehemently denied. He was pressed by President Donald Trump to “look carefully at his odds” of winning, the Times reported, which he noted were not “looking good.”
The deadline for Miller to resign is Saturday evening at the latest to give “local party chairs enough time to name a replacement on the ballot by Monday at 4 p.m.,” the Times reported. With Miller’s confirmation that he intends to stay in the race – a decision at odds with Trump allies who’ve pressed the president to call on Miller to drop out – the Ohio Republican may very well help Democrats turn the district blue.
“Top Republicans worry [Miller and Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC), who was accused of inappropriate conduct toward young female staffers] could cost the party a key pair of seats in November,” Punchbowl News previously reported.
Miller is now poised to face Democratic congressional candidate Brian Poindexter, who as of Thursday was leading Miller by 14 points.
“The Ohio Republican Party and local party chairs stayed publicly quiet this week, for the most part, declining to answer questions about whether they supported Mr. Miller’s candidacy,” the Times’ report reads.
“If Mr. Miller had withdrawn, they would have had to call a meeting by the end of Saturday to replace him, under state law. Matt Miller, the chairman of Ashland County and the mayor of Ashland, who is not related to the congressman, said on Saturday that no such meeting had been scheduled.”
