Poll Shows Max Miller Down Double Digits as He Loans Campaign $1 Million
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Ohio Congressman Max Miller faces mounting political headwinds as a new poll shows him trailing Democratic challenger Brian Poindexter by double digits, amid weeks of intense scrutiny surrounding allegations of domestic abuse against Miller, which he has repeatedly denied.
The accusations against Miller have fueled concerns among Republicans that a once-reliable GOP seat could now be in serious jeopardy.
Despite the unfavorable polling, Miller, 37, is signaling he has no intention of leaving the race for Ohio's 7th Congressional District. According to The Wall Street Journal , the congressman plans to loan his campaign $1 million in personal funds, providing a major financial boost as he attempts to weather the controversy.
Miller said the investment demonstrates his confidence that he can still win reelection, even as several prominent Republicans have publicly urged him to step aside. “I am invested in this election in every way and I will invest the resources into my campaign to win,” he told the outlet.
The Journal reports that Miller plans to transfer the money in two installments of $500,000. “I am in this for the long haul,” the embattled congressman said. “I know there are some people that are concerned about my ability to win this race right now, but I don’t share that.”
Newsweek has reached out to Miller's campaign via email on Thursday night for comment.
The calls for Miller's withdrawal have grown increasingly significant. Among those publicly questioning whether he should remain the Republican nominee are Ohio U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno—Miller's former father-in-law—as well as fellow GOP Senators Katie Britt and Ohio's Jon Husted. The lawmakers seemingly fear the controversy could cost Republicans a competitive House seat.
Miller's ex-wife, Emily Moreno—daughter of Senator Moreno—has accused Miller of domestic abuse against her and their daughter, age 2, including an incident in which the second-term congressman allegedly held a gun to Emily Moreno's head, according to court documents.
The congressman, President Donald Trump's senior adviser during his first term in the Oval Office, has denied any wrongdoing. Miller has also filed suit against his ex-wife, alleging defamation after a Daily Mail report on the family scandal, NBC News reports.
The combination of the new poll and internal party turmoil has left Republicans with mounting pressure as the election approaches.
While campaign cash can help fund advertising and voter outreach, it cannot by itself erase potential political liabilities or change public perception. Miller's willingness to invest another $1 million underscores both the seriousness of his electoral challenges and his determination to remain in the race despite growing opposition from within his own party.
Craig Agranoff, political professor at Florida Atlantic University, told Newsweek on Thursday: "Self funding $1 million signals that Miller is fully committed and has the personal resources to keep fighting, which can matter when outside donors start pulling back. Financially it keeps the lights on and allows him to stay on television and in mailboxes through the fall." "Politically it is a much harder sell," Agranoff added. "When a new poll from a Republican firm shows a candidate down double digits with very high awareness of the allegations, money alone rarely closes that kind of gap. Voters in this district have already moved, and party leaders clearly see risk to the seat. The loan buys time and presence, but it does not change the underlying problem of a damaged personal brand in a race that was already tightening."
Whether that financial commitment will be enough to overcome the current political climate remains one of the biggest questions in Ohio's congressional contests coming in the fall.
Poindexter told CNN's Brianna Keilar in part on Thursday night that he feels bad for Miller's family, including his daughter, ex-wife and Senator Moreno. "If these allegations prove to be true, he should be in jail and not worried about holding a seat in Congress.”
Meanwhile, midterm elections are commonly seen as a measure of public approval for the current president, and the president's party has traditionally lost seats during them. Republicans currently hold a thin majority in the House, with 218 seats compared to Democrats' 212.
According to the new poll from Co/efficient, Miller has 33 percent compared to Poindexter's 47 percent. The poll surveyed 615 likely general election voters in Ohio's 7th District on August 5 and August 6. The margin of error is 3.94 percent.
In a poll taken at the end of July, Miller had 39 percent compared to Poindexter's 44 percent, a difference of 5 percent. The new poll shows that Miller's unfavorable rating jumped 16 percent from 41 percent to 57 percent. Awareness of the domestic violence allegations also spiked from 53 percent to 86 percent in a week, the survey notes.
"The data does not support a viable path to victory for Max Miller. Whatever Republican path exists in Ohio's 7th does not run through him," the poll says in part.
Trump has not publicly called on Miller to resign or drop out of his race by next week's deadline. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, the president said he was "not going to get involved," adding that it is a "very sad situation."
"I know Max very well, but it's very, very sad that a situation like that takes place," he said.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he won't tell Miller to drop out and that "we have to allow this process to play out."
He added in part, while speaking with Politico's Dasha Burns, that "we don't take disciplinary action against members for allegations," highlighting that Miller vehemently denies the accusations.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Edward T. Cummins .
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