<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/democrat/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Democrat</a> Brian Poindexter released a new advertisement on October 7, 2026, targeting his opponent, <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/max-miller/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rep. Max Miller</a> (R-OH). The ad features comments from Miller's ex-father-in-law, <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/bernie-moreno/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sen. Bernie Moreno</a>, related to domestic abuse allegations against Miller.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The advertisement highlights a statement Moreno made during a press conference at the Capitol, following the emergence of new domestic abuse allegations in court filings from the summer. Moreno described an incident where Miller allegedly refused to give his daughter her plush bunny during a custody exchange.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Look, I don’t care about the politics of this,” Moreno stated in the ad. “My granddaughter, she has a little blue bunny that she sleeps with. Max would not hand over the little blue bunny. Literally held it hostage for 48 hours. This girl is crying at night because she can’t sleep without her little blue bunny. And his answer is, ‘I’m just not going to give it to you.’ So this is the level of total and complete depravity. Truly the seventh level of hell.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Miller has denied the allegation regarding the bunny.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The <em>Washington Examiner</em> reached out to Miller’s campaign for a response.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This ad is part of Poindexter's campaign strategy to contrast his personal conduct with that of Miller. In a previous campaign advertisement, Poindexter featured his three daughters, who praised him for his work ethic and dedication to family, implicitly criticizing Miller.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In September 2026, local TV stations began airing an ad featuring a sheriff who claimed that Miller is not suitable for office due to the abuse allegations. “Max Miller’s wife has a restraining order against him. A judge signed it,” said Summit County Sheriff Kandy Fatheree in the ad. “Court documents say that Miller beat her. Held a gun to her head. Child welfare found a broken collarbone on their 2-year-old, broken under his care and with suspicious bruising.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Miller responded with a <a href="https://www.politico.com/f/?id=000001a0-c068-d276-aff6-e16f61530000" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">cease-and-desist letter</a>, asserting that the statements were “false, malicious, and defamatory.” The letter requested that the stations refrain from broadcasting the ad in Ohio, warning that they would be doing so with knowledge of its falsehood.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In response to the legal threat, Poindexter publicly tore the letter in half.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Miller continues to face scrutiny amid a public legal battle with his ex-wife. The <em>New York Times</em> reported that she alleged Miller “scalded her chest and stomach by throwing hot water from a skillet at her body; held a gun to her head; pushed her against a wall and hit her head; and fractured their daughter’s collarbone and bruised her shoulder.” Miller has denied these allegations.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Cleveland-area seat is considered a relatively safe hold for Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections, although Miller's legal issues have created challenges for the party. President Donald Trump won the district by 11 points in 2024, but nonpartisan race raters now consider it a toss-up.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Despite the controversies, Republican leadership has continued to support Miller. “Divorces are ugly, and I’m glad I’m not in his shoes right now,” House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-MI) stated on <em>Face the Nation</em> last month. “I support anybody with an ‘R’ behind their name.”</p>