Poindexter on the Rise

The Ohio plan: In Ohio’s 7th District, Representative Max Miller, a Republican who once advised in the Trump White House, pursues another term while facing serious accusations from his former wife about abuse toward her and their child. Democrats see his challenger, Brian Poindexter—a union ironworker running for Congress—as a candidate with potential to redraw the district from red to blue, and they have placed him on their targeted list to attract additional fundraising and backing. They argue Poindexter could flip the seat for their side, and that Miller’s vulnerabilities—compounded by the fact that the race deadline for quitting had already passed—make him a weaker target deserving of substantial outside effort.

The most severe allegations against Miller come from his ex-wife, Emily Moreno—the daughter of another Republican, Ohio State Senator Bernie Moreno. Court filings provided by Moreno’s attorney allege that Miller held a firearm to her head, slammed her against a wall, and doused her with hot water. The documents also accuse him of fracturing their toddler daughter’s shoulder. Miller has not faced criminal charges and has denied Moreno’s claims.

Meanwhile, Bernie Moreno has said that Miller “is a danger to my daughter, and I hold my breath every minute he has custody of my granddaughter.” Miller refuses to drop out of the race and has sued his ex-wife for defamation.

“Poindexter, who turned 47 on Tuesday, is a hard hat-wearing, union card-carrying ironworker,” notes The New York Times. “With fresh opportunity—given Mr. Miller’s struggles—to win over voters in a Cleveland-area district that went for President Trump by double digits, he is the type of candidate some Democrats believe can claw back working-class voters who have flocked to Mr. Trump in recent years.”

In other words, Poindexter stands to benefit from Miller’s messy personal life and allegations of abuse. As the deadline for Miller to drop out passed yesterday, Cook Political Report moved the race from “Likely Republican” to “Toss-up.” But Poindexter has been struggling with fundraising and even the basic mechanics of running a campaign: “A longtime friend of Mr. Poindexter’s from his time on the local City Council serves as his campaign manager, communications director and head of finance all in one,” reports the Times. 

It’s quite a predicament for Ohio voters who seem to be choosing between political dynasties (Miller with his entwined Moreno ties) and ironworkers with limited political experience. “I never got into this race to defend Max Miller’s personal life,” Poindexter said. “I entered the race because of policies that hurt us.” The challenge is that he hasn’t clearly articulated a broad vision yet, and his past includes some lesser offenses, including an arrest “after a scuffle with a Pittsburgh Browns fan” and misdemeanor charges “such as public intoxication, speeding and, on one occasion, assault,” according to the Times. A single felony charge arose when he and some friends got into a fight with a couple of other guys at a local beach.

Scenes from New York: “Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration faced a setback on Monday when a judge paused the rollout of a controversial tax aimed at second homes owned by wealthy New Yorkers, forcing officials to rush an appeal,” reports The New York Times. “Judge Wayne M. Ozzi of the Staten Island State Supreme Court granted a temporary restraining order requested by homeowners who had sued the city last week, claiming the rollout was mishandled. The halt proved temporary: the city filed papers Monday evening saying it would appeal the ruling, a move that largely blocked Ozzi’s order from taking effect until a higher court weighs in.”

QUICK HITS

• “In March 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a memo directing states to collaborate with local officials to identify weaknesses in water systems that hackers could exploit, and to develop remediation plans. Municipalities could apply for federal grants to help cover the costs,” reports The Washington Post. “But three Republican-led states—Arkansas, Iowa, and Missouri—sued, arguing that the memo exceeded the EPA’s authority, did not provide for public comment, and imposed an undue burden on small towns. The federal appeals court for that region, known as one of the more conservative courts, blocked the rule change. The EPA withdrew it. Late last month, a water utility in western Arkansas—one of the states that sued—suffered a cyberattack, part of a wave of intrusions into municipal water systems believed by U.S. intelligence to be the work of Iranian regime hackers.”
• “Private credit is showing growing signs of strain, even as some of the largest fund managers insist they are putting a tumultuous year behind them,” reports The Wall Street Journal.
• The Jones Act waiver has again been extended for 90 days by the Trump administration, allowing international vessels to move between U.S. ports in a bid to keep gasoline prices in check. The Jones Act has long drawn criticism as outdated; some hope it may eventually be scrapped, if only in the distant future.
• A race to watch: “The next big clash between centrists and progressives in the Democratic Party will unfold in Minnesota, where a competitive Senate primary has been shaped by the administration’s aggressive immigration measures and a corruption scandal that unsettled the Democratic-led state government,” reports The New York Times. “The contest between Angie Craig, a moderate representing a purple suburban district, and Peggy Flanagan, Minnesota’s progressive lieutenant governor, will test the party’s left-wing energy as it aims to flip the Senate.”

• “Who Are the Good Guys and the Bad Guys?” asks Ross Douthat in his final essay for The New York Times. “I’m No Longer Sure.”