Ohio Republicans miss the deadline to replace Max Miller, locking him onto the November ballot
The withdrawal cutoff passed Saturday, Aug. 8 with Max Miller (Rep-R Ohio) — accused of domestic abuse and unopposed in the May 5 primary — refusing to quit; Democrat Brian Poindexter (D-OH) is the only other name on the ballot.
Miller will remain in the race after the Saturday, Aug. 8 withdrawal cutoff passed without a withdrawal. He denies the domestic abuse claims and has resisted calls from other Republicans to end his campaign for a third term. Miller faced no opponent in the May 5 Republican primary; Democrat Brian Poindexter is the other named candidate for Ohio's 7th Congressional District in November.
What the missed deadline actually forecloses:
- Had Miller withdrawn in time, Ohio law would have handed the replacement pick to the district's Republican central committee — party officials, not voters.
- A write-in is the only remaining Republican alternative, and write-ins essentially never win House seats: the last to do it was Ron Packard, a California Republican, in 1982.
- The House cannot refuse to seat a winner over allegations. Expulsion takes a two-thirds vote and has happened six times in the chamber's history, most recently George Santos (Rep-R New York), 311-114, in December 2023.
RELATED
Max Miller (Rep-R Ohio), accused of abuse, will not withdraw
Miller's spokeswoman confirmed that he would remain in the race as Ohio's Saturday, Aug. 8 withdrawal cutoff passed.
Mr. Miller, who has faced pressure from fellow Republicans to end his campaign, will stay in the race, a spokeswoman said.
SEMI-RELATED
Jim Banks (Sen-R Indiana) calls the allegations against Miller deeply troubling
Banks addressed the domestic abuse allegations and joined Republican calls for Miller to resign.
Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) on Sunday said allegations against GOP Rep. Max Miller (Ohio) are 'deeply troubling.'
Data: POLI