Pink Rose Society

Ohio's 9th Congressional District (2026)

A marquee U.S. House battleground in the Toledo area: a rematch between Democrat Marcy Kaptur — the longest-serving woman in House history — and Republican Derek Merrin, now running on a map redrawn firmly in the GOP's favor.

The matchup

  • Democratic incumbent: Marcy Kaptur (in the House since 1983).
  • Republican challenger: Derek Merrin (former Ohio House member).
  • 2024 result: Kaptur 176,228 (48.1%) to Merrin 175,035 (47.8%) — a 1,193-vote, 0.32% margin, her narrowest ever and the first time she didn't win a majority.

The stakes

The 2025 map moved OH-9 to R 54.5–45.5; on the new lines, Trump carried the district 54.5% to Harris's 44.0% in 2024. So the rematch runs on significantly redder terms than 2024's near-tie. Kaptur's manufacturing-first brand is what has kept the seat blue against the district's rightward drift.

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