Democrat Brian Poindexter Defeats Max Miller in Ohio’s 7th District

An Iron Worker Takes Ohio’s 7th District

An iron worker and Brook Park City Council member has unseated an incumbent in a closely watched House contest shaped by explosive personal allegations.

Democrat Brian Poindexter is projected to win Ohio’s 7th District, according to Decision Desk HQ. The victory makes Poindexter the first Democrat to represent the district—which extends south of Cleveland’s suburbs—in decades.

Incumbent Faces Domestic Violence Allegations During Divorce

The campaign pivoted sharply around domestic violence allegations made against incumbent Max Miller during a contentious divorce that played out throughout the general election cycle. Court records first obtained by Mother Jones revealed that Miller’s ex-wife, Emily Moreno, accused the incumbent of domestic abuse, including holding a gun to her head, throwing hot water on her, and an incident involving their daughter’s fractured collarbone. Miller has denied all wrongdoing and sued Moreno for defamation.

Prosecutor Finds Insufficient Evidence Regarding Daughter Injury

A county prosecutor’s office ultimately found that there was insufficient admissible evidence to bring a case to a grand jury regarding the daughter’s injury.

Emily Moreno’s father, Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno, stated publicly that Miller was unfit to hold office, adding that he held his breath every minute the incumbent had custody of his granddaughter. Meanwhile, Miller attempted to lean into the controversy, running ads that used his divorce to relate to voters undergoing their own separations and casting himself in a sympathetic light.

Voters Elect Challenger Centered on Working-Class Platform

Voters ultimately sided with Poindexter, 46, who centered his platform on appealing to working-class families near Cleveland’s airport. His agenda focused on lowering the minimum age to qualify for Medicare, regulating data centers, and limiting funding for the war in Iran.

Both the Poindexter campaign and outside political action committees ran advertisements emphasizing Miller’s alleged history of violence, which also included accusations from a high school classmate and an ex-girlfriend. Miller denied those accounts as well.

A Broader National Reckoning

The race unfolded against a broader national reckoning over gender-based violence, particularly in Ohio, which saw political consequences for multiple men in Congress accused of sexual misconduct in the months leading up to the election, including a primary loss, official censure, and multiple resignations.

By the TellingPointy Editorial Board

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