Ohio — 7th District

CLEVELAND - Brook Park council member and union ironworker Brian Poindexter on Tuesday won an eight-way Democratic primary to challenge GOP U.S. Rep. Max Miller in Ohio’s 7th Congressional District.

With 70% of the vote counted, Poindexter had 37% of votes in the race when Associated Press declared him the winner at 11:09 p.m. The runner up in the race, former Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald’s 22%.

Poindexter’s showing came after outside groups poured more than $500,000 into the primary on his behalf — spending that FitzGerald had loudly denounced. The Jobs and Democracy PAC, largely funded by people affiliated with the artificial intelligence company Anthropic, spent approximately $500,000 on television and digital advertising boosting Poindexter. A second PAC aligned with Blue Dog Democrats spent more than $161,000 on direct mailers supporting him. FitzGerald called the outside spending an attempt to “hijack” the Democratic primary and demanded it stop.

Poindexter — who secured endorsements from U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Ohio AFL-CIO and the United Auto Workers — will face Miller in a district where the Cook Political Report gives Republicans a 5-point edge, though Miller won his last re-election with just 51% of the vote.

Elsewhere Tuesday, three other Democrats and Republicans won primaries setting up general election contests against Northeast Ohio’s congressional incumbents.

In Ohio’s 14th District, former Euclid council member Maria Jukic won the Democratic primary to face GOP Rep. Dave Joyce in November. In Ohio’s 13th District, Northfield radio host Carey Coleman won the Republican primary to take on Democratic Rep. Emilia Sykes. And in Ohio’s 5th District, Fostoria City Council President Brian Shaver won the Democratic primary to challenge GOP Rep. Bob Latta.

The results set up five congressional general election matchups this fall in races that could help determine which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives. Democrats need to turn over a handful of seats nationwide to reclaim the House majority, and they’re hoping an electorate that has soured on President Donald Trump’s initiatives — including tariffs and the war in Iran — will make it happen.

Ohio’s 7th Congressional District: Poindexter wins the chance to challenge Rep. Max Miller

About 11 p.m. Tuesday, Associated Press declared that Poindexter won the crowded contest to take on Miller, of Bay Village, who did not have a primary opponent.

The Democratic field in the 7th district was the region’s largest, reflecting its eagerness to oust Miller, a former White House aide to Trump who represents a district covering southern and western Cuyahoga County, northern Wayne County, and all of Medina and Ashland counties.

All eight candidates argued Miller has prioritized enabling the Trump administration over representing working families.

Poindexter made the case that Democrats let their worker-first message get crowded out by social issues and that he could return working-class voters to the party.

FitzGerald said his years fighting corruption as an FBI agent, assistant Cuyahoga County prosecutor and county executive make him uniquely suited to counter an administration he regards as among the “most corrupt we’ve had in our country.”

Ohio’s 13th Congressional District: Republicans choose Carey Coleman to challenge Rep. Emilia Sykes

Northfield radio host Carey Coleman won a four-way Republican primary in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District to take on Democratic U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes of Akron. He had more than 45% of the vote when Associated Press declared him the winner at 10:06 p.m..

Sykes did not face a primary challenge.

Coleman will face an uphill climb against Sykes in a district that includes all of Summit County and parts of Stark and Portage counties. National Republicans had previously made Sykes one of their top targets, but a redraw of Ohio’s congressional map complicated that path. The Cook Political Report, which previously rated the seat a tossup, now calls it “Likely Democrat” after the new boundaries added the college town of Kent, shifting the district a few points to the left.

Coleman, who resigned his nightly talk show on WNIR radio upon announcing his candidacy, said voters no longer trust career politicians.

“As someone outside the system, I am a fresh face that believes government can and should do better,” he said.

Ohio’s 5th Congressional District: Democrats choose Brian Shaver to take Rep. Bob Latta

Fostoria City Council President Brian Shaver won the four-way Democratic primary in Ohio’s 5th Congressional District on Tuesday, to earn the right to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Bob Latta in November. Shaver received around 29% of the vote.

The race to challenge Latta attracted four Democrats who faulted the longtime incumbent for supporting the “One Big Beautiful Bill” and for failing to hold the White House accountable. The district, which includes all or parts of Lorain, Huron, Richland, Crawford, Wyandot, Seneca, Hancock, Wood and Sandusky counties, carries a built-in 12-point Republican advantage according to the Cook Political Report.

Latta, who was unopposed in his Republican primary, ended 2025 with more than $1 million in his campaign treasury.

Shaver, who teaches social studies at Fostoria Junior/Senior High School and serves as president of the Fostoria Educators Association union, framed his candidacy around accountability and the relationship between elected officials and their constituents. He continued teaching while campaigning on evenings and weekends, describing it as “modeling democracy in action.”

Ohio’s 14th Congressional District: Joyce survives primary challenge; Democrats pick Maria Jukic

Republican U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce of South Russell fended off a primary challenge from former Trumbull County Commissioner Niki Frenchko of Warren, winning more than 70% of the early vote to clinch the GOP nomination in Ohio’s 14th Congressional District.

Frenchko challenged Joyce from the right, arguing his voting record was out of step with the district’s Republican voters and citing poor ratings from organizations like the Conservative Review and Heritage Foundation. Joyce had Trump’s endorsement and a campaign war chest of nearly $3.3 million — resources he deployed on television advertising.

With nearly all the precincts counted, Joyce was leading with 71% of the vote to Frenchko’s 29%, unofficial returns showed.

The Cook Political Report rates the seat R+10, which means whoever wins the GOP primary has a strong chance to carry the district in November. Its turf includes all of Lake, Geauga, Ashtabula, and Trumbull Counties, and parts of Portage and Mahoning Counties.

Associated Press declared former Euclid council member Maria Jukic winner of the Democratic primary at 9:59 p.m.. She had more than 50% of the vote against former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Bill O’Neill, who unsuccessfully sought the seat in 2008 and 2010; and Moreland Hills craft brewer and restaurateur Carl Setzer.

All three argued Joyce has been too much of a rubber stamp for the Trump administration.

“I look forward to running a comprehensive and determined campaign for reelection and visiting with voters across our great district to listen to their concerns and earn their vote,” said an election night statement from Joyce.

Ohio’s 11th Congressional District: Brown holds off primary challengers; Republicans pick their nominee

U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown of Warrensville Heights on Tuesday defeated a pair of primary challengers who claimed the 11th congressional district she represents had deteriorated on her watch.

She had 89% of the vote when the Associated Press called the race in her favor at 8:15 p.m. She defeated Shaker Heights teacher Ardelia Holmes and Cleveland tech worker Sean Freeman.

Brown has represented the 11th district, which includes Cleveland and most of its eastern suburbs, since winning a 2021 special election. She serves on the House Agriculture and Oversight committees and says she has delivered millions of dollars in district funding each year, including money for the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, school programs, and a Cuyahoga County swimming initiative. She describes herself as having the 15th most progressive voting record in Congress according to Progressive Punch.

When top Agriculture Committee Democrat Angie Craig of Minnesota leaves the House next year, Brown hopes to succeed her as the committee’s ranking Democrat — and potentially its chair if Democrats retake the House.

On the Republican side, Highland Heights retired actuary Mike Kirchner was ahead of Cleveland Heights contractor James Hemphill in early balloting, but the Associated Press had not called the race.

It is the state’s most demographically Democratic congressional district, with a Cook Political Report D+28 rating, making it a steep climb for any Republican to win.