Max Miller stays in Ohio race as GOP's deadline to replace him passes

Rep. Max Miller remained the Republican nominee in Ohio's 7th Congressional District after the GOP's deadline to replace him on the ballot expired on Saturday, August 9, 2026, effectively locking the party into supporting an embattled candidate it had sought to remove.

Miller did not withdraw by the Saturday cutoff, closing Republicans' last practical window to field a different nominee. Under Ohio law, party leaders had no mechanism to replace him without his cooperation. Miller would have needed to formally withdraw on Saturday to allow time for a required two-day notice before a GOP committee meeting scheduled to certify a replacement by Monday at 4pm ET.

On Saturday, Miller's campaign spokesperson Abigail Angelos told The New York Times that the two-term Republican would stay in the race despite domestic-abuse allegations he denies. On Friday, Miller had announced he would loan his campaign $1 million, signalling his intention to fight.

Miller faces allegations of domestic abuse from his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, the daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio). Miller previously sued ex-girlfriend Stephanie Grisham, a former White House press secretary, after she accused him of abuse, and dropped the suit under a 2023 settlement.

The district has historically favored Republicans but has emerged as a potential Democratic pickup in 2026 as the GOP fights to preserve its narrow House majority.