Rep. Max Miller (R-OH), whose ex-wife has accused him of abusing her and their young daughter, lost his re-election bid to Democrat Brian Poindexter, according to Mediaite.
With about 90% of the vote counted, Poindexter had about 55% in Ohio's 7th Congressional District, according to The New York Times. NBC News, CBS News and the Associated Press projected Poindexter the winner.
Poindexter is an ironworker and city council member from the Cleveland suburb of Brook Park. He flipped a district that President Donald Trump would have carried by 11 points in 2024, NBC News reported.
Miller, 37, a two-term congressman, conceded the race in a post on X, writing that he was "disappointed at this evening's election results." He added that he had "fought earnestly" to keep representing the district.
The race was upended by allegations from Miller's ex-wife, Emily Moreno, the daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH). In court filings, she accused Miller of holding a gun to her head, throwing hot water on her and throwing her against a wall.
Moreno also blamed Miller for a fractured collarbone their 2-year-old daughter suffered in February. Cuyahoga County children's services found that allegation "unsubstantiated," and prosecutors declined to bring charges, citing insufficient evidence, NBC4 reported.
Miller has denied all of the allegations and has not been charged with any crime. He released documents and audio recordings of conversations with Moreno, and in an October ad blamed the "relentless press" for amplifying his "family's heartbreak."
Sen. Moreno spoke out in August after facing criticism for staying silent. "My daughter lives in constant fear of this man," he said, accusing Miller of "increasingly erratic and dangerous behavior."
The senator urged Miller to drop his re-election bid, but Miller refused. The House Ethics Committee said in August that it was reviewing allegations of domestic abuse and illegal drug use against him, but it has not released any findings.
Miller also sat for a contentious interview with CNN's Jake Tapper. At one point Tapper told him, "I'm not done with the list of women that have accused you of violence!"
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