Democrat Brian Poindexter has defeated Republican Rep. Max Miller in the race for Ohio’s seventh congressional district, a contest that became dominated by domestic abuse allegations against the incumbent. The Associated Press called the race shortly before 1:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday.
Miller’s defeat follows domestic abuse allegations, which he denies, that significantly impacted his campaign. These controversies spurred Democrats to increase investment in Poindexter’s bid, even though President Donald Trump had won the district by 11 points in 2024.
Poindexter, 46, is an iron worker and a member of the Brook Park City Council. His campaign focused on appealing to working-class voters in a Cleveland suburb. Key platform points included lowering the minimum age for Medicare eligibility, regulating data centers, and limiting funding for the war in Iran. "I’m not in this to carry the flag for the Democratic Party," Poindexter said in August. "I’m in this to flip a seat for working families."
Controversy Surrounding Miller
The tight House race garnered national attention due to allegations against Miller. His ex-wife, Emily Moreno, accused him of domestic violence, including instances of throwing hot water on her, holding a gun to her head, and an allegation concerning their daughter’s fractured collarbone. Miller denied all allegations and sued Moreno for defamation. A county prosecutor’s office later determined there was "insufficient admissible evidence" to bring a case to a grand jury regarding their daughter’s injury.
Former White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham also accused Miller of domestic abuse and misconduct during a past romantic relationship, filing a temporary restraining order against him. Miller denied these claims as well, and no criminal charges have been filed against him.
Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio, Miller’s former father-in-law, publicly stated in the summer that Miller should "seek public help" and joined Senator Jon Husted in urging Miller to withdraw from the race. When asked about his accusers in the summer, Miller drew a parallel to the allegations faced by Donald Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign, stating, "He stayed in and was resilient. That is a quality that the American people cherish, and so for no second am I going to sit here and continue to be debased by false and baseless allegations."
The House Ethics Committee announced in August that it was actively reviewing the allegations against Miller. Miller, a former Marine, has served in the House since 2023 and previously worked as a White House aide during Trump’s first presidential term. Ohio’s seventh district includes areas from Cleveland’s suburbs to Lake Erie, encompassing Medina, Wayne, and Ashland counties.