In the heat of Ohio’s congressional race, Democratic candidate Brian Poindexter is steering clear of personal attacks against his opponent, Rep. Max Miller, despite the latter facing serious abuse allegations. Poindexter, an ironworker, emphasized his commitment to the economic concerns of working families over political drama.

“I'm not necessarily running against Max Miller,” Poindexter stated in a recent interview. “I'm running for working families.” He acknowledges the increased attention on his campaign due to the allegations against Miller but remains focused on uniting a broad coalition. “Republicans, Democrats, independents are all uniting around the fact that working families are just not making it, and they want to see real change,” he said.

Miller, currently embroiled in a scandal involving claims of domestic abuse made by his ex-wife Emily Moreno, daughter of Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno, has vehemently denied the accusations. These include alarming incidents where he allegedly poured hot water on Moreno and threatened her with a gun. While these claims have stirred a media frenzy and calls for Miller’s withdrawal from the race, Poindexter is choosing to concentrate on policy rather than controversy.

“Our message stays the same,” Poindexter remarked, acknowledging the severity of the allegations but choosing to focus on community engagement, which he argues Miller lacks. “Our constituents are happy to see somebody actually putting in the work,” he added.

Despite not wanting to speculate on whether Miller should resign or withdraw from the race, Poindexter remains committed to his platform. “What I'm just going to do is continue to run for the hardworking people of District 7. They need somebody who's willing to fight for them, and I'm willing to fight to make sure that their lives are improved,” he stated.

The White House and some GOP officials are reportedly pressuring Miller to consider stepping down to allow the Republican Party to field a new candidate. Miller, however, confirmed ongoing support from former President Donald Trump amidst this challenging race.

As the district awaits further developments, Poindexter’s campaign continues to gather momentum, focusing on economic issues rather than the controversy surrounding his opponent. “I didn't get into this race for an easy path,” Poindexter said, signaling his readiness to face any candidate that the GOP fields, underscoring his dedication to the cause of working families over political opportunism.