September 13th, 2026 Len’s Political Note #838 Brian Poindexter Ohio 07
2026 General Election
On November 3, the voters of Ohio 07 will choose which of two stubborn men will be their Congressman. Ohio 07 begins in Parma, slightly southeast of Cleveland, and angles south, south west, bypassing Akron and continuing into rural Ohio as far south of Akron as Akron is south of Cleveland.
On May 5, Republican Congressman Max Miller III had no opponents in the Republican primary. He had probably never heard of Brian Poindexter, who won the Democratic primary. More likely, Max Miller III probably thought it did not matter who the Democratic nominee for Ohio 07 was.
In 2022, Max Miller III married Emily Moreno. They had a daughter in 2023. In 2024, Max and Emily’s divorce became final. On August 2, 2026, US Senator Bernie Moreno, a Republican, posted on X that Max Miller III’s character should bar him from serving in Congress and that Miller needed “help.” That same day, Miller III had defended himself publicly against Emily’s allegation of his abusive behavior.
The 2026 race for Ohio 07 was transformed. Donald Trump, who had endorsed Max Miller III was asked if he would withdraw his endorsement. He said he would look into it. Donald Trump did not withdraw his endorsement. Instead, he explains, he warned Max Miller III that the race would be difficult.
As the controversy continued, specific accusations that Max Miller III had held a gun to his wife’s head, that he had thrown scalding hot water at her, that he had fractured his child’s collar bone, that there had been previous accusations of abuse against him—among them by former White House press secretary and his former romantic partner Stephanie Graham.
While the deadline for Miller III to withdraw from the race and be replaced by the Republican Party came and went, Miller refused to budge and politicians took sides. Former Ohio Lt. Governor and appointed US Senator, who is in the midst of a campaign against former US Senator Sherrod Brown, said Max Miller III should resign from Congress. Montana Senator Tim Sheehy said Max Miller III needed help.
The other Republicans do not actually defend Max Miller III. Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican nominee for Governor of Ohio kept quiet as did the Speaker of the US House of Representative Mike Johnson. Gradually, Republicans seem to be following the quiet path, which they hope will avoid losing the seat. Max Miller III’s stubbornness has won the first round of this battle.
Perhaps the most important Republican in this matter is Cyril Kleem. The Republican Mayor of Berea, Ohio, a city that shares a school district with Brook Park where Brian Poindexter is a city councilor. Kleem has been with Brian Poindexter from not quite the beginning of the campaign.
The beginning of the campaign was in Brian Poindexter’s garage. He and fellow City Councilman Thomas DuFour were the campaign. As noted in the Ohio Capital Journal, DuFour served as campaign manager, communication director, treasurer, and cameraman. As DuFour explained, the two of them became four, then eight, and more. Brian Poindexter’s avowed independence from the Democratic Party and his role in union leadership helped him defeat Ed Fitzgerald, an attorney and former FBI special agent, in the May 5 Democratic primary. Bernie Sanders and Ro Khanna endorsed Brian Poindexter, reflecting their belief in repairing the Democratic party’s relationship with union members.
It was in August that the Democratic nomination for Ohio 07 looked like it could actually lead to a seat in Congress. Brian Poindexter was interviewed by television and print national news outlets – a slew of them. The interviews were, he said, a “nightmare,” He acknowledged his troubles as a young man – misdemeanor disorderly charges, a misdemeanor assault charge. He discussed his marriage, fatherhood, and divorce. It was, he says, fatherhood that led him to change. At 27 he was at a community college seeking an Associate’s Degree. He became a union ironworker and a union figure. He taught union apprentices. He was elected to the Brook Park City Council.
Republican Mayor Kleem said “A lot of working class people have felt left out. Some of these people gravitated toward the Republican Party, particularly toward Donald Trump, because I think to a certain extent the Democratic Party has been accused of forgetting about them.” He added that he thought that Brian Poindexter does represent those who have been forgotten. Mayor Kleem may have dismissed Bernie Sanders, but Bernie Sanders could have said what Mayor Kleem said
Ohio 07 is the fifth closest race in the country according to Nate Silver. Despite that judgment, three August polls of the race showed Brian Poindexter. That second poll, when limited to likely voters, had Brian Poindexter ahead 47-33, 43-39, and 54-46 Max Miller has a substantial financial advantage. He has raised $2.1 million and had $1.4 million available on June 30. Brian Poindexter raised $600,000 and had $300,000 available on June 30. We do know that a Democratic PAC has committed $6 million to Brian Poindexter. I know nothing about outside funding for Max Miller III.
DONATE to Brian Poindexter’s campaign. He could turn a close race in Republican territory into a shocking win.
Watch for tomorrow’s supplement about other Toss-up and close Midwestern races. Brief notes on:
Iowa 01 Law Professor and Ex State Rep Christina Bohannan
Iowa 02 State Rep Lindsay James
Iowa 03 State Senator Sarah Trone Gariott
Michigan 04 State Senator Sean McCann
Michigan 07 Climate Activist William Lawrence
Michigan 10 Prosecutor Christina Hines
Ohio 07 City Councilor Brian Poindexter
Ohio 09 Incumbent Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur
Wisconsin 01 ER Nurse Mitchell Berman
Wisconsin 03 Businesswoman and Non-Profit Head Rebecca Cooke
