Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur has secured her 22nd term in Congress after defeating Republican challenger Ohio State Rep. Derek Merrin in northwest Ohio. The closely watched race was called in favor of Kaptur, with her leading by 2,382 votes. Kaptur had declared victory on November 6 and expressed gratitude for the trust placed in her by the voters to fight for working families, jobs, healthcare, Social Security, and Medicare.
Kaptur’s win maintains the incoming Republican House majority at 218 seats, with Democrats holding 213. Her victory celebration highlighted the resilience of communities and a renewed commitment to the American values of growth and prosperity. The race was one of eight where Democrats were running in districts that voted for Trump in 2020, with the state supporting Trump by 8 points.
Merrin had criticized Kaptur’s long congressional tenure and pushed for term limits, accusing her of being ineffective and aligning with the Biden administration’s agenda. Kaptur defended her record, refuting claims that she had not accomplished much in her decades in Congress. Republicans were optimistic about flipping the seat after redistricting brought more Trump-friendly areas into the district.
Kaptur’s campaign ads targeted Merrin’s support for convicted politicians, painting him as a radical on abortion issues and a “corporate puppet.” Despite being viewed as vulnerable, Kaptur’s victory solidified her position in Congress and set the stage for continued representation of Ohio’s 9th District.
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