Max Miller

Rotunda Rumblings

Ethics probe sought: Democratic women in Congress are calling on the House Ethics Committee to investigate domestic violence allegations against Republican U.S. Rep. Max Miller that surfaced during his child custody dispute with his former wife, Sabrina Eaton writes. Miller denies the allegations and says previous child abuse claims involving his daughter were investigated and found unsubstantiated. The controversy is adding political pressure in his reelection race, with election forecasters rating his district as more competitive.

Price pressure: Ohio electric bills are likely to stay high for years as demand from AI data centers outpaces the construction of new power plants. In response, PJM, the nonprofit that manages the regional power grid, is proposing emergency changes to attract more generation and shift more costs to the massive electricity users driving demand. Anna Staver reports that consumer advocates and energy experts say it’s a good start, but much bigger reforms may still be needed.

Read more Ohio politics stories

Ohio Statehouse News Quiz for Friday, July 31, 2026

Ohio electric bills may stay high until 2030, at least

Democratic women in Congress demand ethics probe of abuse claims against Rep. Max Miller

Structural integrity: The unveiling of the Ohio Women’s Monument on Ohio Capitol Square may possibly be delayed due to insufficient soil depths at the designated site. The site must hold up the granite pillars and statues of women. Laura Hancock reports that below the monument’s site are a layer of soil and the Statehouse parking garage and reinforcement work is being done on both.

Comp time: The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation will vote Aug. 28 on issuing another $1 billion in dividends to roughly 250,000 participating employers. As Jeremy Pelzer reports, if the payments are approved, the state’s workers’ comp insurer will have paid $10.2 billion in dividends during Gov. Mike DeWine’s nearly eight years in office – meaning the average participating employer would receive more in dividends than it paid in premiums during that time.

Moreno pushes contempt vote: U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno says he expects the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to vote next week on holding Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination at a hearing on the COVID-19 pandemic, Eaton reports. Moreno called Fauci’s refusal to answer questions “the exact definition of contempt” and said he should be held accountable with jail time.

Buckeye Brain Tease

Question: What well-known snack cracker, invented in Ohio, was born from a company that got its start baking hardtack for World War I soldiers?

Email your response to [email protected]. The first correct respondent will be mentioned in next week’s newsletter.

Last week’s question: Where was the hottest temperature ever recorded in Ohio?

Answer: The hottest temperature ever recorded in Ohio was 113 degrees. It was taken at a weather station outside Gallipolis in July 1934.

Capitol Letter reader Rob Kirchstein was the first to email with the correct answer.

On the Move

Sabato’s Crystal Ball has shifted its rating in the congressional contest between incumbent Republican Max Miller of Bay Village and Democratic Brook Park council member Brian Poindexter from “Likely Republican” to “Leans Republican,” citing widely reported domestic violence allegations against Miller that he denies. Although the district went for Trump by 11 points, “if the state’s Senate and gubernatorial races are close, as polling suggests, those races might be close in this district, too, and the allegations against Miller could give Democrats more of an opening,” the publication writes.

Josh Rultenberg is departing as communications director for U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes ahead of the Sept. 15 release of a new book he co-authored, "Draw the Line in Ohio‚" about gerrymandering and the state’s redistricting process.

NBC’s Steve Kornacki will headline the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association’s annual forum on Oct. 1 in Columbus.

Birthdays

Friday, July 31: State Rep. Adam Holmes; Sam Tedder, legislative aide to state Rep. Thad Claggett; AJ Thomas, legislative officer, Ohio Facilities Construction Commission; Trevor Vessels, Republican political consultant; George Hoadly, Ohio’s 36th governor (1826-1902)

Saturday, Aug. 1: Brea Frey, Ohio House payroll assistant/attendance officer; Kenny Yuko, former Ohio Senate Minority Leader

Sunday, Aug. 2: Craig Forbes, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services chief operating officer; U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance

Straight from the Source

“I just wish he was an Ohio State fan instead of a Notre Dame fan.”

Sen. Bill DeMora, a Columbus Democrat, reacting to the news that House Speaker Matt Huffman, a Lima Republican, was elected vice president of the National Conference of State Legislatures. DeMora gave the quote to Gongwer News.