Ohio House candidates racing for working-class vote

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(The Center Square) – A U.S. House of Representatives seat in the Cleveland suburbs is at the center of the fight over labor policy and tariffs.

Democrat Brian Poindexter is challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, in the newly competitive race to represent Ohio’s 7th Congressional District. Poindexter, a union ironworker, is leaning on his background in the trades to win over blue-collar voters, especially Republicans.

After allegations of spousal and child abuse against Miller became public this year, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report moved the race from “likely Republican” to “toss up.”

Democrats see an opportunity to flip a once probable red seat and regain control of the House after the midterms.

Control of the House will come down to a handful of battleground races like Ohio’s 7th District. Whichever party wins the majority on Nov. 3 will set policy priorities in the chamber for the last two years of President Donald Trump’s term.

Both Poindexter and Miller are running on jobs and wages, but from different directions. Poindexter is focusing on labor law and the minimum wage, while Miller is homing in on tax policy.

Poindexter says his first priority if elected to Congress will be union legislation. He has campaigned on his support for the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, which would make it easier for employees to join labor unions and bargain with their employers.

“I’ve spent my career on jobsites where safety rules weren’t ‘red tape,’” Poindexter wrote on his campaign website. “They were the difference between going home at night or not. Calling worker protections ‘burdensome’ ignores the reality of the people doing the work.”

Poindexter also supports raising the federal minimum wage, though he has not specified a figure.

Poindexter has been a union ironworker for 20 years and is an apprenticeship instructor. He won an eight-way Democratic primary in May with 37% of the vote.

Miller’s approach to worker pay runs through the tax code. He voted for his party’s 2025 tax and spending package, dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and touted its provisions eliminating tax on tips and overtime.

Like Poindexter, Miller has vocalized support for career and technical education.

“The American dream does not require a 4-year degree and a mountain of student loan debt,” Miller’s campaign website says.

Poindexter has made his opposition to the Trump administration’s tariffs a central part of his House campaign. He says tariffs have raised prices for working Ohioans, especially farmers.

“While targeted tariffs can be a tool, I oppose the blanket tariffs that are making everything more expensive,” Poindexter wrote in a candidate survey.

Miller has backed efforts in Congress to preserve the administration’s tariffs, voting no on a resolution in February to terminate tariffs on Canada. He also voted to restrict Congress’ ability to challenge the White House’s tariffs.

Miller, an aide in the first Trump White House, was endorsed by the president in May. Trump called Miller “a fantastic champion for the great people of Ohio’s 7th Congressional District” who will “advance our America First agenda.”

November’s election will be the first under Ohio’s new congressional map. Trump carried the redrawn 7th District by 11 points over former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024, according to the Downballot.

In his latest filings to the Federal Election Commission, Miller reported $2.14 million in funds raised and $1.38 million in cash on hand. Poindexter reported $603,000 with $312,000 still on hand.

Polls in Ohio will stay open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.