ASHLAND — A 46-year-old union ironworker is on his way to the United States Congress.
Democrat Brian Poindexter defeated incumbent Republican Max Miller in the race to represent Ohio’s 7th Congressional District 180,614 (54.93 percent) to 148,177 (45.07 percent), according to final, unofficial vote totals from the Ohio Secretary of State.
District 7 includes Ashland and Medina counties, along with portions of Wayne and Cuyahoga counties.
Locally in Ashland County, Miller received 12,690 votes (66.34 percent), compared to 6,318 (33.03 percent) for Poindexter, according to final, unofficial vote totals from the Ashland County Board of Elections.
A union ironworker and apprenticeship instructor, Poindexter has also served as an at-large member of Brook Park City Council since 2017. He is a graduate of John Marshall High School and earned an associate degree from Cuyahoga Community College.
Poindexter was victorious back in the May primary among a field of eight Democratic candidates, receiving 37.02 percent of the vote.
Miller, currently in his second term as the U.S. representative for Ohio’s 7th Congressional District, was first elected to the position in November 2022 and again in November 2024.
State and national headlines amid abuse allegations from his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), swirled heavily around the incumbent throughout much of his campaign for reelection.
Miller posted to his X account just before 11:30 p.m. Tuesday evening conceding his bid.
Below is Miller’s statement:
“I am disappointed at this evening’s election results. I have fought earnestly to continue to represent the interests of my home and community in the Ohio 7th District.
We have achieved great things in the last four years and I am disheartened that I cannot continue the good fight. I am very grateful for every one of you that came out and voted for me. I will always be Team Ohio and Team America!”
‘We’re all Americans first’
“Who would have thought we’d put a worker in Congress?” Poindexter said in his victory speech Tuesday, according to WKYC Channel 3.
A father of three, the 46-year-old said his campaign united working people from around District 7, along with Democrats, Republicans and independents.
“Do you know what we just did?” he asked the crowd gathered in front of him. “We showed our district, our state, our country and the world what workers can do when we come together.”
During a recent interview with Ashland Source, Poindexter said he wants to fight to bring costs down for everyone, while also making sure that people who work for a living “whether they’re (a) Democrat, independent or Republican, can make good wages so they can afford things.”
“I think that’s what is unique about my campaign compared to others, is that I’m really running on the issues that affect all of us,” he said previously.
Poindexter said he believes there are many opportunities for common ground to be found in Congress between political opposites.
“What I hope to achieve in this campaign is showing folks, from whatever political party you align with, that we’re all Americans first,” he told Ashland Source in October.
Below is Poindexter’s full victory speech from Tuesday evening. (Credit: WKYC Channel 3)
