Republican Derek Merrin projected to win Ohio's 9th District primary

Derek Merrin won the Republican superior successful Ohio's 9th Congressional District connected Tuesday, CBS News projected, mounting up a rematch against longtime Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur successful what's expected to beryllium 1 of the astir contested House races of the year. 

Kaptur, the longest serving pistillate successful Congress, has held the spot since 1983. 

Merrin, a erstwhile authorities representative, tried to unseat Kaptur successful 2024, but mislaid by astir 2,400 votes — conscionable supra the threshold needed to trigger an automatic recount. The contention wasn't called until 2 weeks aft the election. 

But the northwestern Ohio territory was redrawn successful October 2025, creating a much Republican-leaning spot up of November. The alteration is expected to enactment Kaptur successful her toughest bid yet for reelection arsenic Republicans effort to support power of the House. The Cook Political Report has rated the territory a flip up. 

The National Republican Campaign Committee is focused connected flipping the 9th District, saying successful January that "Republicans are poised to flip OH-09 reddish and discontinue retired of touch, vocation person Marcy Kaptur. Kaptur should spell up and commencement cleaning retired her bureau now."

Merrin bushed 4 different GOP candidates connected the superior ballot, including authorities Rep. Josh Williams, erstwhile Immigrations and Customs Enforcement authoritative Madison Sheahan, wellness attraction information idiosyncratic Anthony Campbell and Air Force seasoned Alea Nadeem. 

Sheahan was a arguable precocious introduction successful the race, and has campaigned connected her relation astatine ICE, and racked up endorsements from erstwhile Ohio State University manager Urban Meyer and MAGA personage Ted Nugent. But she struggled to summation traction successful the crowded field.

Williams, 41, told CBS Toledo affiliate WTOL that Kaptur "has been successful Congress longer than I've been alive." Both Williams and Merrin touted their blimpish credentials and longtime enactment successful the district.