Campaign

Kaptur, Merrin set for House rematch in Ohio

Comments:

by Sarah Fortinsky - 05/05/26 8:44 PM ET

Comments:

Link copied

by Sarah Fortinsky - 05/05/26 8:44 PM ET

Comments:

Link copied

NOW PLAYING

Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) and former state Rep. Derek Merrin are projected to win their respective primaries on Tuesday, setting up a rematch in November after the longest-serving woman in Congress narrowly defeated Merrin in 2024.

Kaptur — who has represented Ohio’s 9th Congressional District since 1983 — ran unopposed, while Merrin defeated a crowded Republican primary field to secure the nomination.

The district is one of three currently held by Democrats that Cook Political Report rates as a “toss-up” ahead of the general election.

Kaptur defeated Merrin in 2024 by just 2,382 votes. Since then, Ohio has undergone a mid-decade redistricting push that shifted the seat four points toward Republicans. The district voted for President Trump by 7 points in 2024, but under the new map, would have backed him by 11 points.

Still, Kaptur has repeatedly proven to be a formidable candidate in northwest Ohio. In 2024, she was one of 13 House Democrats elected in districts that voted for Trump, while Merrin ran well behind the president. Trump did not make an endorsement in this year’s GOP primary.

Kaptur also holds a strong fundraising advantage over Merrin heading into the general election, raising $3.3 million to his $751,000 so far this cycle. Her edge was narrower in 2024, when she outraised him by a three-to-one margin.

Add as preferred source on Google