WOOSTER, OHIO — Gaile Noble, a 76-year-old retired social worker and Democrat, has lived in a deep-red part of Ohio her entire life and has been represented by a Republican in Congress for almost all of it. But she’s optimistic that will change in November — and has her hopes set on Democrat Brian Poindexter to defeat her current member of Congress, Rep. President Donald Trump carried Ohio’s 7th District, which stretches from parts of the Cleveland suburbs down to more rural counties, by 11 points in 2024.
But Miller, seeking a third term, now faces a toss-up race because of his acrimonious, widely publicized divorce and custody battle with his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, the daughter of Ohio’s senior senator, Bernie Moreno. The court filings and records in the case surfaced allegations of domestic violence. Miller has denied the allegations and has not been charged with a crime.
But after Miller defied calls from other Republicans, including his ex-father-in-law, to drop out, the turmoil in his personal life has become a central issue in the race and the subject of Democratic attack ads. And in a year where several men in Congress have resigned, lost primaries and passed on reelection due to allegations of misconduct against women, the race will also test how much domestic violence allegations sway voters in a GOP stronghold. The race has big implications for control of Congress.
But the months of news coverage about the allegations against Miller also puts a spotlight on a painful issue for survivors of gender-based violence, one that domestic violence advocates say could echo throughout the region. Ohio’s domestic violence services helped nearly 3,000 people on a single day in 2025, according to The National Network to End Domestic Violence. How men treat women has become a core question of the race here.
Moreno said he holds his breath when Miller has custody of his granddaughter. Miller released an ad where he talks about the “painful reality” of divorce and notes that he and Emily Moreno now share equal custody of their young daughter. And Poindexter, a union ironworker and local city council member, has featured his three daughters in a campaign ad and calls them the “stars of the show.” At a Poindexter event at the Democratic Party headquarters in Wayne County on Saturday, Noble told him it was “refreshing to see a positive ad” amid all the negative ones.
His campaign literature features a photo of him and his daughters with the caption: “Brian Poindexter: Ironworker, Girl Dad.” “They’re my entire inspiration,” Poindexter said in an interview. You know, it’s my whole world, and when the days get long and times get tough, they keep giving me energy.” Miller, 37, comes from an affluent, politically connected Cleveland-area family and worked as a White House staffer during Trump’s first term before Trump endorsed him to run for Congress. In ads, Poindexter and Democrats have highlighted allegations against Miller from Moreno; his ex-girlfriend, former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham; and a high school classmate who told Politico in 2021 that he pushed her down the stairs.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
