Rep. Mike Lawler, facing tough NY reelection battle, refuses to return Max Miller donation

Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News on Aug 13, 2026

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Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., Thursday refused to return $10,000 in recent campaign donations from Rep. Max Miller, the embattled Ohio Republican who’s facing intense scrutiny over domestic violence allegations.

Digging in his heels, Lawler vowed he won’t return the money from Miller until and unless the allegations, including claims by his father-in-law and fellow GOP Sen. Bernie Moreno, are aired in court.

“There’s been a lot of allegations leveled,” Lawler said in a contentious interview with CNN’s Dana Bash. “It’s tragic but it’s something that should play out in family court.”

“Ultimately there’s nothing that’s been corroborated here,” he added.

Lawler himself faces a very tough reelection battle as Democrats seek to retake the House from Trump’s GOP in the November midterms. He faces a challenge from Cait Conley, a military veteran and political moderate in the Westchester County-based suburban district.

Lawler is one of only three Republicans who won districts that Trump lost, underlining his vulnerability as the president’s approval ratings hit historic lows. Still, he’s viewed as politically formidable force who has a good chance of bucking the political odds.

In his interview, Lawler pointed fingers at Democrats for making political hay out of the accusations against Miller, including claims by his ex-wife that he was responsible for the couple’s young daughter breaking her collarbone while in his care and using her beloved stuffed bunny rabbit as a pawn in their feud.

“The fact that Democrats have made this a political issue, it’s wrong,” Lawler said. “This is the typical Washington media game.”

Miller, a former White House aide to President Trump, is running for a third term representing the OH-07 district, a fairly safe Republican district south of Cleveland that voted for Trump by 11% in 2024.

His reelection campaign has been rocked by the allegations made by his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, and her senator dad, who says Miller is unfit to serve in Congress.

But Miller insists he won’t pull the plug on his reelection battle and blew off a Monday deadline for GOP leaders to replace him on the November ballot in a race that is now seen as a toss-up against Democratic iron worker Brian Poindexter.

So far, only one Republican lawmaker, Minnesota Rep. Brad Finstad, has returned donations made by Miller’s political action committee. Most have dodged questions about Miller, unlike Lawler.

Conley called on Lawler to return the $10,000 Miller gave this political cycle, along with $7,000 in past donations from him.

“Mike Lawler’s refusal to condemn domestic abuser Max Miller and return $17,000 in donations from him is disqualifying,” Conley tweeted.

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