<p>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.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>As a former <a href="https://www.axios.com/2018/05/09/ohio-primary-election-results" target="_blank">Republican nominee for U.S. Senate</a> and congressman from the district, Renacci would likely be a serious contender to take Miller's place on the ballot.</p><hr><ul><li>"I still know a lot of people, I still have good name recognition," Renacci told Axios.</li><li>Miller, who is facing <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/02/max-miller-moreno-abuse-allegations" target="_blank">allegations of domestic abuse</a>, has denied wrongdoing and maintained he plans to run for reelection despite pressure from fellow Republicans to end his campaign.</li></ul><p><strong>Driving the news: </strong>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 <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/04/trump-max-miller-moreno-election-house" target="_blank">reported</a>.</p><ul><li>Miller said in a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/02/max-miller-moreno-abuse-allegations" target="_self">video</a> 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.</li><li>Shortly after his announcement, his ex-father-in-law, Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), said in a <a href="https://x.com/berniemoreno/status/2083936589424582942" target="_blank">post on X</a> that Miller is "a danger to my daughter, and I hold my breath every minute he has custody of my granddaughter."</li><li>Several House Democrats have called for Miller to resign from Congress, with some lawmakers <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/03/max-miller-expel-congress-democrats-allegations" target="_blank">floating expulsion</a>.</li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying: </strong>"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."</p><ul><li>"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.</li><li>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."</li></ul><p><strong>Yes, but: </strong>"I truly don't believe Max is leaving, I think Max is going to stay in the race," Renacci said.</p><p><strong>Between the lines: </strong>There is polling in the field right now testing Renacci's viability as a candidate, the ex-congressman confirmed.</p><ul><li>"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.</li><li>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.</li></ul><p><strong>The bottom line: </strong>"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."</p>