The Cook Political Report shifted Rep. Max Miller‘s (R-OH) seat from “likely Republican” to “toss up” over increasing pressure around domestic abuse allegations leveled by his ex-wife.Miller is under intense pressure from within his own party to drop out of the race after his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), accused him of the physical abuse of her and their daughter and of illegal drug use. Both Ohio senators have called on Miller to drop out, and he’s under a House Ethics Committee investigation. Despite this, Miller has refused to drop out, holding out past the Monday deadline for Ohio Republicans to nominate a new candidate. This stubbornness could cost Republicans another seat, as the Cook Political Report has shifted the race to a toss-up over the scandal.
“The serious nature of the allegations — he’s been accused of throwing hot water at his wife, holding a gun to her head and fracturing his two-year-old daughter’s collarbone — make it much more difficult for Miller to hold his northeast Ohio seat, which typically favors Republicans but is a light enough shade of red to be competitive in a Democratic wave year,” the Cook Political Report wrote in an update.
