Republican Derek Merrin has won the primary for Ohio’s 9th Congressional District, CBS News projected on Tuesday, setting up a rematch against Democratic incumbent Marcy Kaptur in the November general election.
Kaptur, the longest-serving woman in the U.S. House of Representatives, has represented the district since 1983. Merrin, a former state representative, narrowly lost to Kaptur in the 2024 race by about 2,400 votes, just over the threshold for an automatic recount. That race was not called until two weeks after Election Day.
Following redistricting in October 2025, Ohio’s 9th District has become more favorable to Republicans, increasing the competitiveness of the upcoming race. The Cook Political Report currently rates the district as a toss-up.
Merrin secured the Republican nomination by defeating four other candidates, including state representative Josh Williams, former Immigration and Customs Enforcement official Madison Sheahan, health care data scientist Anthony Campbell, and Air Force veteran Alea Nadeem. Sheahan, who received endorsements from former Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer and conservative figure Ted Nugent, struggled to gain significant support.
The National Republican Congressional Committee has targeted this district, signaling its intention to flip the seat and defeat the long-time incumbent. In January, the committee declared its confidence that Republicans could take the 9th District and urged Kaptur to prepare to leave office.
Why it matters
The 9th District race is considered one of the most competitive House contests in 2026 and could influence control of the U.S. House of Representatives. The seat’s shift toward a Republican-leaning electorate after redistricting raises the stakes for both parties ahead of the midterm elections.
Background
Marcy Kaptur has represented Ohio’s 9th Congressional District since 1983, making her the longest-serving woman in Congress. The district was redrawn in late 2025 to include more Republican voters, altering its political composition. Merrin previously challenged Kaptur in 2024, losing narrowly in one of the closest House races of that year.
Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following source:
Read more Politics stories on Goka World News.