Scoop: Jim Renacci mulls House bid if Max Miller drops out
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Then-Rep. Jim Renacci talks on the phone during a House Ways and Means Committee meeting in 2017. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call
Former Rep. Jim Renacci told Axios in a phone interview Monday night that he may mount a comeback run for Congress if Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) drops his bid for reelection.
Why it matters: As a former Republican nominee for U.S. Senate and congressman from the district, Renacci would likely be a serious contender to take Miller's place on the ballot.
- "I still know a lot of people, I still have good name recognition," Renacci told Axios.
- Miller, who is facing allegations of domestic abuse, has denied wrongdoing and maintained he plans to run for reelection despite pressure from fellow Republicans to end his campaign.
Driving the news: President Trump told Miller in a phone call on Monday that "things aren't looking good" and that the Ohio Republican's reelection would be tough, Axios' Alex Isenstadt and Marc Caputo reported.
- Miller said in a video posted to social media Sunday that he will not drop his bid for reelection and denied allegations that he abused his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, and their young daughter.
- Shortly after his announcement, his ex-father-in-law, Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), said in a post on X that Miller is "a danger to my daughter, and I hold my breath every minute he has custody of my granddaughter."
- Several House Democrats have called for Miller to resign from Congress, with some lawmakers floating expulsion.
What they're saying: "I'm getting calls from everybody," Renacci told Axios. "Many people have asked me to consider, if he did step out, if I would be interested, only because it's my old seat."
- "The people that have called me are donors and actually a campaign team, and a whole bunch of people said, 'We'll get behind you, we've got the team, we've got the donors, we've got the money,'" he said.
- Renacci said he told callers that "if Max Miller would step out and ask me to step in, I would consider it then. But until then, the answer is it's Max Miller's seat until he decides it's not his seat."
Yes, but: "I truly don't believe Max is leaving, I think Max is going to stay in the race," Renacci said.
Between the lines: There is polling in the field right now testing Renacci's viability as a candidate, the ex-congressman confirmed.
- "I have been told they're going to ... put me in a poll just to see, so it sounds like all that's happening," he said.
- If Miller dropped out before the close of business on Tuesday, a special primary would be held to replace him on the ballot. If he withdrew after that, party leaders would have until Aug. 10 to pick a replacement.
The bottom line: "We'll see what happens," said Renacci. "There's a couple days left and I'm very close with Max. I believe these are allegations that, you know, he's going to have to make this decision."
