Another Key House Race Has Been Called
Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur declared victory on Wednesday, securing her 22nd term in the U.S. House of Representatives after a hard-fought race in Ohio’s 9th Congressional District.
The Associated Press called the race at 1:02 p.m. EST, naming Kaptur the winner over Republican state Rep. Derek Merrin. With nearly all votes counted, Kaptur narrowly defeated Merrin, capturing 48.27% of the vote to his 47.63%, a margin of just 2,382 votes.
Libertarian candidate Tom Pruss garnered around 4% of the vote, likely pulling support away from Merrin and tightening the contest.
Kaptur, the longest-serving woman in House history, celebrated her win in a district that underwent significant changes due to redistricting, transforming it into one of the nation’s most competitive. Her re-election keeps the seat in Democratic hands, even as Republicans expand their majority in the House.
Merrin, a fourth-term state representative and staunch supporter of President-elect Donald Trump, waged a strong campaign that highlighted stark differences between the candidates. With the results now finalized, the Democrats hold 213 seats in the House, while Republicans have secured a slim majority with 218 seats.
At 78 years old, Kaptur was widely viewed as one of the most vulnerable incumbents in this election cycle. The race for Ohio’s 9th District was among the most expensive, with campaign expenditures surpassing $23 million, according to OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan group tracking campaign finance.
Although the race wasn’t officially called until Wednesday, Kaptur had declared victory on November 6, the day after the election.
“Tonight, the people of Ohio’s 9th District have spoken, and I am deeply grateful for the trust they have placed in me to continue fighting for working families, creating good-paying jobs, protecting healthcare for everyone, and securing Social Security and Medicare so Ohioans can retire with dignity,” Kaptur’s campaign stated.
“This campaign has always been about the strength and resilience of our communities, and tonight we celebrate not just a victory but a renewed commitment to the belief that what America makes and grows, makes and grows America,” she added.
Merrin, however, criticized Kaptur’s long tenure, claiming she lacked substantial legislative accomplishments, noting that she had only been the primary sponsor of five bills during her time in office.
“Joe Biden had the decency to step down,” Merrin remarked at an event over the weekend. “Marcy Kaptur doesn’t have the decency to step down and let northwest Ohio have a representative who’s eager to work, can climb the steps of the Capitol, and actually deliver.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) threw his support behind Merrin at a rally in October, calling the race “one of the best opportunities to flip a blue seat to red.”
Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump recently addressed speculation about his decision to nominate former Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz as attorney general.
During a visit to Boca Chica, Texas, to witness SpaceX’s sixth test flight of its Starship rocket, Trump was asked if he was reconsidering Gaetz’s nomination. “No,” he replied briefly before departing, as reported by Fox News.
Gaetz’s nomination has sparked widespread criticism due to lingering controversies surrounding a Justice Department investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. While prosecutors ultimately declined to pursue charges, the accusations have continued to cloud his political career.
Shortly after Trump announced Gaetz’s nomination last week, the Florida congressman resigned from his seat.
House Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest (R-MS) had previously stated that any ongoing investigation into Gaetz would conclude with a report if he remained in Congress. However, now that Gaetz has left office, it is unlikely that such a report will be issued, according to multiple reports.