A former state lawmaker is heading for a rematch with U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur in one of the country’s most-watched congressional races.
Former state Rep. Derek Merrin won the crowded GOP primary for Ohio’s 9th Congressional District on May 5, CNN and NBC News projected. Merrin defeated four other Republicans for the nomination, including a former deputy director for Immigration and Custom Enforcement.
The 9th Congressional District includes Toledo and swaths of rural northwest Ohio. Merrin and Kaptur will face off in the Nov. 3 election, along with the winner of the Libertarian primary.
Merrin narrowly lost to Kaptur in 2024, an outcome that some blamed on the Libertarian candidate. He served eight years in the Ohio House and championed tax policy, school choice and the state’s previous ban on most abortions. Near the end of his tenure, he was entrenched in a GOP leadership fight with former House Speaker Jason Stephens.
Merrin kickstarted his public service career at age 19 and got elected as mayor of Waterville within two years. He currently lives in Monclova Township.
Former ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan’s late entry into the primary shook up an already heated race. But Merrin benefitted from name recognition and months of campaigning. Sheahan also faced criticism for her leadership at ICE and spending years away from the 9th Congressional District.
With the primary behind him, Merrin now pivots to a high-stakes − and likely expensive − general election. The race between him and Kaptur, the longest-serving woman in Congress, could help decide which party controls the U.S. House next year.
Republicans hope to flip a seat they’ve eyed for years and redistricted in their favor. Still, Democrats aren’t counting Kaptur out − especially as the GOP faces headwinds from the economy and President Donald Trump’s low approval ratings.
State government reporter Haley BeMiller can be reached at hbemiller@usatodayco.com or @haleybemiller on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio race at center of fight for Congress set for November
Reporting by Haley BeMiller, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
