Democrat Brian Poindexter Flips Ohio's 7th Congressional District

Democrat Brian Poindexter, a union ironworker and Brook Park city council member, won the election for Ohio's 7th Congressional District on November 4, 2026. The Associated Press declared Poindexter the winner at 1:23 a.m. EST, with NBC News projecting an 8-point lead after 80 percent of votes were counted. Poindexter secured a lead of approximately 15,000 votes, flipping the traditionally Republican-leaning seat to the Democratic Party.

Republican incumbent Max Miller conceded his bid for a third term following a campaign marred by allegations of drug use, misogyny, and violence against women. These claims included reports from former Trump administration staffer Stephanie Grisham and Miller's ex-wife, Emily Moreno, who alleged he held a gun to her head. While Miller denied committing violence against women or hurting his child, the United States House Committee on Ethics opened an investigation into his conduct.

The controversy created a rift within the Republican Party. While President Donald Trump maintained his support for Miller, U.S. Senators Jon Husted and Bernie Moreno called for him to step aside. Senator Moreno described Miller as a "despicable human being" and stated that he "didn’t deserve the seat."

Poindexter focused his campaign on labor issues, health care, and affordability. He targeted working-class voters by highlighting frustrations over high gas and grocery prices, which he attributed to the policies of Donald Trump.