Ohio congressional race heats up as Democrat Poindexter challenges embattled Rep. Miller

In northeastern Ohio, Democrat Brian Poindexter, a nine-year city council veteran and union ironworker, is running against incumbent Republican Rep. Max Miller, whose personal life has been marred by accusations of domestic violence from his ex-wife Emily Moreno and criticism from his own father-in-law, Sen. Bernie Moreno. Although Miller denies the claims and a child-abuse probe was deemed unsubstantiated, the controversy has shifted the Cook Political Report’s rating to a toss-up and boosted Poindexter’s poll numbers.

The race has attracted national attention, drawing support for Miller from Donald Trump and Jim Jordan, while the anti-Trump Lincoln Project produced a $20,000 ad branding Miller a “domestic abuser.” Miller’s camp has countered with ads accusing Poindexter of a decades-old alleged crack-cocaine incident and other minor offenses. The Congressional Leadership Fund and the National Republican Congressional Committee have poured over $5 million into the district, primarily to portray Poindexter as dangerous, while Poindexter’s own ads focus on local economic concerns and a high-profile “blue bunny” anecdote from Moreno’s family.