Brian Poindexter

Brian Poindexter, 47, grew up on Cleveland's west side and graduated from John Marshall High School. He has worked as a union ironworker for about 19 years, after earlier jobs as a truck driver, in a machine shop and in a kitchen, and Ballotpedia describes him as a union organizer. He was elected to the Brook Park City Council in 2017 as an at-large member. News 5 Cleveland reported in 2026 that he had served nine years on the council, while the Ashland Source called him a former councilman in May 2026, and the city's 2026 council roster does not list him. In the May 5, 2026 Democratic primary for Ohio's 7th Congressional District, Poindexter received 23,055 votes, or 37.02 percent, in an eight-candidate field, ahead of Ed FitzGerald with 21.58 percent, according to final unofficial totals from the Ohio Secretary of State. He faces incumbent Republican Max Miller, who was unopposed in the Republican primary, on November 3, 2026; two independents, Thahbia Asad and Andrey Martinichin, are write-in candidates.