Democrat Brian Poindexter defeated incumbent Republican Representative Max Miller in the November 3, 2026 election for Ohio's 7th Congressional District. The defeat followed domestic abuse allegations from Miller's ex-wife Emily Moreno and former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, which Miller denies. Poindexter, a union ironworker, flipped a district that Donald Trump won by 11 points in 2024 and Republicans held since World War II.
2026 election results
- ▪Representative Max Miller conceded his re-election bid for Ohio's 7th Congressional District in a statement posted on social media late on November 3, 2026
- ▪Democrat Brian Poindexter defeated Republican Representative Max Miller in the election for Ohio's 7th Congressional District
Abuse allegations and ethics review
- ▪The House Ethics Committee announced in August 2026 that it was reviewing allegations against Representative Max Miller
- ▪Former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham accused Representative Max Miller of physical abuse during their past romantic relationship
- ▪Emily Moreno accused Representative Max Miller of holding a gun to her head, throwing hot water on her, and shoving her against a wall
- ▪Representative Max Miller denied all physical abuse allegations and filed a defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife Emily Moreno
- ▪A Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services investigation into a broken collarbone suffered by Representative Max Miller's toddler daughter in February 2026 was ruled unsubstantiated
Brian Poindexter's campaign
- ▪Democrat Brian Poindexter earned primary and general election endorsements from Senator Bernie Sanders, Representative Ro Khanna, and Senator Mark Kelly
- ▪Democrat Brian Poindexter and his campaign allies amplified the domestic abuse allegations against Representative Max Miller
- ▪Democrat Brian Poindexter, a union ironworker and Brook Park City Council member, centered his campaign on workers' rights and targeted tariffs
Republican calls for Miller to withdraw
- ▪Ohio Republican Senator Jon Husted joined calls urging Representative Max Miller to withdraw from his re-election campaign before the candidate replacement deadline
- ▪Ohio Republican Senator Bernie Moreno called for Representative Max Miller to exit the House race, stating Miller fails basic character standards required for elected office
Political history of Ohio's 7th district
- ▪Donald Trump won Ohio's 7th Congressional District by 11 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election
- ▪Ohio's 7th Congressional District, encompassing Medina, Wayne, and Ashland counties alongside parts of the Cleveland suburbs, had been represented by Republicans since World War II
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