Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is throwing his support behind Brian Poindexter, a Brook Park city councilman and union ironworker, in the November contest for Ohio's 7th Congressional District. The endorsement pits a rising Democratic figure against a Republican incumbent, Rep. Max Miller, who is engulfed in personal scandals and intra-party pressure to withdraw.
In an exclusive interview with The Hill, Buttigieg praised Poindexter's working-class credentials and authenticity. "He's an example of somebody who walks the walk. He knows what working families are going through because he's literally a card-carrying union ironworker," Buttigieg said. "He's raised in a working-class family, and so he's in this for the right reasons and has the right priorities."
Poindexter is challenging Miller, a two-term Republican, in a district that stretches south of Cleveland and west of Akron. The seat leans heavily Republican—Trump carried it by 11 points in 2024—but Miller's legal and personal troubles have made this race more competitive than usual.
Miller's legal battles and GOP calls to exit
Miller is facing serious allegations from his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, including claims that he held a gun to her head, burned her with hot water from a skillet, and fractured their daughter's collarbone. Miller has denied all allegations. The couple is locked in a custody dispute over their daughter.
Despite calls from both of Ohio's GOP senators—including his father-in-law, Sen. Bernie Moreno—to leave the race, Miller has refused. In a recent CNN appearance, he told Jake Tapper, "At the end of the day, you know, I let the truth speak for itself, and the truth is right there. And I will never, ever, ever let my baby girl see her dad walk away as a quitter. I will continue to finish this, and if I have to run all the way to the end and I'm not successful, Jake, then that's a decision that I decide to make, and I can hold my head way up high, knowing that I fought for the truth."
More recently, Emily Moreno sued Miller over allegations that he "recklessly published and disclosed to the world a nude image" of their daughter after a photo appeared in documents Miller released while contesting her abuse claims. Miller's attorney took responsibility, stating, "I was the only person responsible for assembling, creating, reviewing, adding, deleting, redacting, or making any changes to the information and files that were in this folder," as reported by Politico.
Buttigieg's 2028 ambitions and midterm strategy
Buttigieg, widely considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, framed the race as a "massive character contrast." He called the allegations against Miller "very serious" and noted that such controversies "represent sometimes one more opportunity to get a hearing. But what matters most is what you have to offer when you get that hearing." He added, "I think it's to his credit that Brian's been very focused on his own message, his own story."
Buttigieg has been active in midterm races, recently endorsing a slate of Indiana state legislative candidates and weighing in on other House and Senate contests. When asked if his moves foreshadow a presidential run, he demurred: "Right now, it's about 2026, and so much depends on getting this right. [The] future will come when it comes."
The endorsement adds to the growing scrutiny on Miller, who has also faced criticism over his ex-wife's lawsuit and his family's media ventures. Meanwhile, Poindexter's campaign hopes Buttigieg's backing will energize Democratic voters in a district that could become a bellwether for suburban discontent with the GOP.
