Deadline passes for Rep. Max Miller to be replaced on Ohio ballot as he faces domestic abuse claims

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Embattled Republican Rep. Max Miller is staying in the race for his Ohio congressional district, defying voices within his own party who urged him to step aside as he faced domestic abuse allegations from his ex-wife.

His determination to press on with his reelection campaign is creating headaches for a Republican Party that had not planned to devote attention to defending the seat in this year's midterm elections. His Democratic challenger, union ironworker Brian Poindexter, seized on Miller's controversies by appealing to voters with a promise to “serve with honor.”

Monday presented the last chance for Republicans to replace Miller on the general election ballot in Ohio, leaving the congressman in what is increasingly seen as a competitive race.

Democratic groups supporting U.S. House campaigns have been closely watching the race for Ohio's 7th Congressional District, just south of Cleveland, to see if they want to ramp up their support for Poindexter.

President Donald Trump won the GOP-leaning district comfortably two years ago. Miller won it with just 51% of the vote two years ago in a three-way contest that included former congressman and presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich, who ran as an independent. Under Ohio's current maps, the district leans 55%-44% Republican, according to Dave's Redistricting.

Miller, 37, has said he is confident he can pull out a win, given those odds and the goodwill he said he has built with constituents over his two terms. While both of Ohio's senators, including his former father-in-law, Sen. Bernie Moreno, called on him to drop out of the race, Trump never did.

The Republican president called Miller “a good person” and said his legal dispute with Emily Moreno is best left to the families to figure out. Miller was a senior aide to Trump during his first term as president.

In a CNN interview last week, Miller said the president told him that if he stayed in, “it’s going to be a tough race.” Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters suggested the party would back Miller but stopped short of saying it would spend on his campaign.

“We're going to support our nominees. Everybody has to prove they are capable of winning," Gruters said during a Sunday appearance on NewsMax. “We'll see. I hope that he can.”

It was unclear Monday if Republican groups invested in House races, such as the National Republican Campaign Committee or the super PAC Congressional Leadership Fund, would spend on Miller's behalf.

Miller last week said he was prepared to spend more of his own money on his campaign.

“I know there are people that are concerned about my ability to win this race right now, but I don't share that,” Miller said in a statement to The Wall Street Journal for a report on him infusing $1 million of his own money into the campaign. “I am invested in this election in every way, and I will invest the resources into my campaign to win."

Democratic groups such as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and House Majority PAC were debating Monday whether to include the race among their midterm spending priorities

The race has been drawing increasing attention over the past month amid scrutiny of previous abuse allegations made against Miller by his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, and at least two other women. Some of his attempts to defend himself also have drawn backlash.

At the same time, Democrats have been heartened by Poindexter's prospects. The 46-year-old Brook Park city councilman has campaigned on pocketbook issues and won union endorsements from the Ironworkers International, United Auto Workers, AFSCME, Ohio AFL-CIO and others.

Poindexter on Monday sought to capitalize on Miller's controversies by welcoming voters across the political spectrum to support his campaign.

“It’s unfortunate that Miller has chosen to keep putting his ex-wife and her family through this nightmare in the public spotlight," he said in a statement. “But let me be perfectly clear. I got into this campaign to fight for my neighbors and for working people across this district.”

Miller did not return messages seeking comment.

Miller was the first person Trump endorsed as he sought to punish fellow Republicans who voted in favor of his impeachment over the Jan. 6, 2021, violent assault on the U.S. Capitol or blocked his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which was won by Democrat Joe Biden. The then-32-year-old jumped in to challenge Ohio Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, a popular former professional football player, who ultimately dropped out.

Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa.

Brian Poindexter, Democratic nominee for Ohio's 7th congressional district, speaks to attendees at the Strongsville Democratic Club meeting, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Strongsville, Ohio. (AP Photo/Nate Manley)

FILE - Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, walks out of a meeting with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of La., on Capitol Hill, Oct. 11, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

Brian Poindexter, Democratic nominee for Ohio's 7th congressional district, speaks at the Strongsville Democratic Club meeting, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Strongsville, Ohio. (AP Photo/Nate Manley)

FILE - Rep.-elect Max Miller, R-Ohio, arrives for new member orientation check-in and program registration with Emily Moreno in Washington, Nov. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades, File)

ATLANTA (AP) — Brett Baty hit the first grand slam of his career and the New York Mets held off the Atlanta Braves 8-5 on Monday night for their sixth win in seven games.

Francisco Lindor was 3 for 5 with a 420-foot home run, Jared Young had two hits and two RBIs, and Bo Bichette drove in a run and scored.

Daniel Duarte (1-0) earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief, and Kodai Senga pitched a scoreless ninth for his first career save. Regular closer Devin Williams was placed on the 15-day injured list earlier in the day.

Baty's grand slam came in the first inning off Bryce Elder (8-7), who was unable to follow up on his past three starts where he gave up just one run each game.

Elder nearly escaped the first inning after allowing just one run. With one out and Bichette on first, the Braves thought they had a double play. On a 3-2 count to Carson Benge, Bichette was caught stealing. The pitch was called a ball, wiping out the caught stealing, but replays showed the ball was a strike and Elder tapped his hat for an ABS challenge. The challenge was not granted, keeping the inning alive, and Baty homered three batters later to give the Mets a 5-0 lead.

Mauricio Dubón had a two-run single in the first, Drake Baldwin was 2 for 5 with an RBI and Ronald Acuña Jr. knocked in a run for the Braves, who had won nine straight home games. Michael Harris II scored from third on a wild pitch in the fifth to cut the lead to 7-5 before Young closed the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the ninth for the Mets.

Braves LHP Martín Pérez (7-6, 3.14) will be opposed by Mets RHP Nolan McLean (8-7, 3.51) in the second game of the three-game series Tuesday.

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Atlanta Braves designated hitter Drake Baldwin hits an RBI single against the New York Mets during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Atlanta Braves' Mauricio Dubón (14) reacts after hitting a two-run single as New York Mets first baseman Jared Young (29) looks on during the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

New York Mets' Brett Baty follows through on a grand slam against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)