2026 Midterms · U.S. House · Ohio Lean R
Ohio’s 7th District race
Incumbent Republican Max Miller faces Democratic challenger Brian Poindexter in Ohio's 7th Congressional District general election on November 3, 2026. The race hinges heavily on economic affordability, union labor rights, healthcare access, and candidate contrast following personal allegations against the incumbent and strong polling performance by Poindexter.
The pulse
updated Oct 31Economy and Cost of Living
high saliencePoindexter advocates ending tax cuts for the wealthy and eliminating blanket tariffs to build a worker-centered economy, whereas Miller supports making tax cuts permanent, eliminating taxes on tips and overtime, and deregulating businesses.
Democratic Brian Poindexter
Builds economy around workers and affordability
Poindexter argues that working families are bearing the burden of rising prices while corporations post record profits and wealthy individuals receive tax cuts. He opposes blanket tariffs and the war in Iran, which he identifies as key drivers of gas and grocery prices, while advocating for higher wages and an economy built from the workers up.
- Opposes blanket tariffs that raise consumer prices while supporting targeted tariffs as a policy tool.
- Calls for ending tax cuts for the wealthy and stopping corporate bailouts.
- Attributes rising gas and grocery prices to blanket tariffs and the war in Iran.
“Cuts to health care funding, blanket tariffs, and the war in Iran have driven up crises on insurance, groceries, gas, and everything else we buy.”
“An economy that works can’t be built from the penthouse down. It has to be built from the foundation up, and workers are that foundation.”
Republican Max Miller
Supports permanent tax cuts and deregulation
Miller advocates for tax relief to ease financial burdens on working families, including making tax cuts permanent and eliminating taxes on tips and overtime. He believes that curbing government overspending and removing regulatory barriers for job creators are essential to combating inflation.
- Voted to support making tax cuts permanent, no tax on tips, and no tax on overtime.
- Supports curbing federal spending and lowering taxes to combat inflation.
- Advocates reducing government regulation so private job creators can build economic growth.
“Max knows the burden excess taxation can place on working families in the 7th district. That’s why he has voted to support making tax cuts permanent, no tax on tips, and no tax on overtime.”
“Get the government out of the way and our job creators will make Ohio and America stronger.”
Workers' Rights and Labor Unions
high saliencePoindexter prioritizes passing the PRO Act and expanding labor union access, while Miller concentrates on expanding technical and vocational workforce development options.
Democratic Brian Poindexter
Supports PRO Act and union expansion
As a 20-year union ironworker and apprenticeship instructor, Poindexter makes expanding worker representation a central focus of his campaign. He promises that the first bill he co-sponsors will be the PRO Act to protect organizing rights and prevent employer retaliation.
- Pledges to co-sponsor the PRO Act as his first legislative action to strengthen unions.
- Supports raising the minimum wage and expanding collective bargaining to bring back worker pensions.
- Advocates for strict legal protections against employer retaliation for organizing workers.
“The first bill I sign on to will be the PRO Act to strengthen unions.”
“My union changed my life. It gave me a steady job, the chance to learn from other workers on the job site, and the ability to work one job so I could be home for dinner with my daughters more often.”
Republican Max Miller
Promotes technical education over four-year degrees
Miller focuses his workforce agenda on expanding technical and vocational education so workers can secure high-paying careers without college debt. His campaign materials do not state a position on legislation expanding labor union organizing.
- Pushes to expand career and technical education (CTE) and workforce development programs.
- Emphasizes that achieving prosperity does not require a four-year college degree or student debt.
“The American dream does not require a 4-year degree and a mountain of student loan debt.”
Healthcare
high saliencePoindexter campaigns on reversing healthcare cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and making healthcare portable, whereas Miller voted in favor of the H.R. 1 reconciliation bill.
Democratic Brian Poindexter
Opposes healthcare cuts and supports affordability
Poindexter opposes healthcare funding cuts, strongly criticizing Miller's vote for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act reconciliation bill. He advocates for decoupling healthcare from employment so workers maintain portable coverage, as well as increasing cost transparency.
- Opposes healthcare cuts voted for in H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) and promises to work to reverse them.
- Advocates for portable healthcare coverage so workers do not lose insurance when changing jobs.
- Supports protecting Medicare funding and lowering insurance premium costs.
“I strongly oppose the health care cuts my opponent voted for in the Big Beautiful Bill, and I would work to reverse those cuts and work towards affordable health care for everyone.”
“Tying healthcare to employment gives bad bosses leverage they shouldn’t have.”
Republican Max Miller
Voted for Big Beautiful Bill reconciliation
Miller voted in favor of H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act reconciliation legislation passed by the 119th Congress. His 2026 campaign site does not feature a dedicated standalone healthcare platform section.
- Voted Yea on H.R. 1 (An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14 / One Big Beautiful Bill Act).
Energy and Environment
medium salienceMiller advocates expanding domestic fossil fuel production to lower energy costs, whereas Poindexter focuses on foreign policy interventions like ending the war in Iran to lower fuel prices.
Democratic Brian Poindexter
Opposes war-driven fuel price increases
Poindexter addresses energy through the lens of cost of living, arguing that foreign conflict and blanket tariffs drive up gas and utility prices. He explicitly calls for ending the war in Iran to lower gas prices for working families.
- Calls for ending the war in Iran to bring down retail gas prices.
- Opposes blanket tariffs that increase overall energy and utility costs.
“I support ending the Iran war to bring down gas prices.”
Republican Max Miller
Supports American energy independence and domestic drilling
Miller supports domestic energy development including oil, natural gas, and coal to achieve American energy independence. He criticizes Biden administration energy regulations for raising electricity and gas prices and supports Trump-era domestic energy policies.
- Voted Yea on the Lower Energy Costs Act (H.R. 1 in the 118th Congress) to increase domestic oil, gas, and coal production.
- Advocates returning to Trump administration policies to foster energy independence and lower utility bills.
“Max will continue to support the policies of the Trump administration to develop American energy independence and reduce the costs of gas and electricity.”
Manufacturing and Domestic Trade
medium saliencePoindexter opposes blanket tariffs while favoring targeted tariffs and penalizing companies that outsource, while Miller emphasizes broad 'America First' trade policies and supply chain independence.
Democratic Brian Poindexter
Supports targeted tariffs and domestic production
Poindexter calls for real 'Made in America' policies by removing tax subsidies for corporations that ship manufacturing jobs overseas. He supports targeted tariffs to protect American workers while opposing blanket tariffs that raise prices on consumers.
- Supports eliminating tax breaks and subsidies for companies that outsource jobs.
- Supports targeted tariffs as an economic tool but opposes blanket tariffs.
- Advocates investing in domestic supply chains to increase national security and job stability.
“If corporations want tax breaks, subsidies, and access to American markets, they should earn them by creating good-paying jobs here, respecting workers’ rights, and investing in the communities that support them.”
“And while targeted tariffs can be a tool, I oppose the blanket tariffs that are making everything more expensive.”
Republican Max Miller
Supports supply chain security and domestic infrastructure
Miller advocates for modernizing domestic infrastructure and supply chains to reduce reliance on foreign competitors like China. He criticizes corporations that abandon American labor for foreign markets and aligns with Trump-era trade priorities.
- Pushes to rebuild supply chains to decrease dependence on foreign competitors.
- Supports 'America First' economic policies to revitalize middle-class manufacturing.
“When we rebuild and modernize our infrastructure here at home, we strengthen our supply chains, reduce dependence on foreign competitors, and keep America secure.”
Government Integrity and Governance
medium saliencePoindexter advocates legislative bans on congressional stock trading and corporate money in politics, whereas Miller's governance record relies on voting for public record transparency bills and personal ethics pledges.
Democratic Brian Poindexter
Supports banning stock trading and corporate campaign cash
Poindexter proposes anticorruption reforms aimed at removing corporate influence from federal policymaking. He supports banning members of Congress from trading individual stocks and stopping corporate campaign spending.
- Supports banning members of Congress from trading stocks.
- Advocates removing corporate money from federal elections.
- Calls for ending tax breaks for wealthy donors and corporations.
“I want to ban politicians from trading stocks, get corporate money out of politics, and end the tax cuts for the wealthy.”
Republican Max Miller
Voted for transparency legislation
Miller voted in favor of major government transparency measures in Congress, including the Epstein Files Transparency Act. In his past campaign platform, he pledged personal ethics commitments including putting assets in a blind trust and donating a portion of his congressional salary.
- Voted Yea on the Epstein Files Transparency Act (H.R. 4405) to release unclassified DOJ records.
- Previously pledged to place personal assets in a blind trust and donate 25% of his salary to charity.
Border Security and Immigration
medium salienceRepublican Max Miller
Supports strict border enforcement and border walls
Miller emphasizes strict enforcement at the southern border to prevent drug smuggling, human trafficking, and unauthorized entries. In Congress, he consistently voted for tough immigration and enforcement bills, including the Laken Riley Act and the SAVE Act.
- Voted Yea on the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) requiring detention of unauthorized immigrants arrested for theft crimes.
- Voted Yea on the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register for federal elections.
- Voted Yea on the Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2).
“The lawlessness at the southern border has led to illicit drugs on our streets, dangerous criminals getting rich, and human trafficking of innocent victims.”
Infrastructure
low salienceRepublican Max Miller
Supports funding roads, bridges, and broadband
Miller identifies infrastructure modernization as a core component of his 'America First' platform. He advocates investing in roads, bridges, rail, and rural broadband to foster job creation and keep commerce moving efficiently.
- Supports federal investment in roads, bridges, rail, and broadband access.
- Frames infrastructure modernization as essential to supply chain resilience and national security.
“No policy is more America First than investing in our infrastructure.”
Public Safety and Law Enforcement
low salienceRepublican Max Miller
Supports increased funding for law enforcement
Miller advocates for increased funding and backing for police officers and front-line law enforcement. He strongly opposes efforts to defund law enforcement agencies and backed state bail reform efforts in Ohio.
- Pledges to secure increased funding and support for law enforcement officers.
- Opposes efforts to defund or reduce resources for police departments.
- Supported Ohio Issue 1 (2022) to allow judges to consider public safety when setting bail.
“While radical Democrats want to defund and degrade our law enforcement on the front lines, Max will fight for increased funding and support for law enforcement.”
Prediction markets 2
updated Oct 31Polymarket ↗
OH-07 House Election Winner
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Social Security and Retirement
low saliencePoindexter proposes requiring high earners to pay more in taxes to protect Social Security and Medicare, whereas Miller voted for the Social Security Fairness Act to reduce benefit offsets.
D Democratic Brian Poindexter
Supports protecting Social Security and Medicare
Poindexter pledges to protect Social Security and Medicare from benefit cuts by requiring high earners to pay more into the system. He also advocates for expanding collective bargaining to rebuild worker pension funds.
R Republican Max Miller
Voted for Social Security Fairness Act
Miller voted in favor of the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023, which addressed benefit offsets for government pension recipients. His 2026 website does not outline a detailed standalone Social Security plank.