Democratic U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur secured another term in the U.S. House on Wednesday, defeating Republican state lawmaker Derek Merrin, who had the backing of President-elect Donald Trump.
Kaptur’s victory in northwest Ohio not only keeps her in office but also extends her record as the longest-serving woman in House history. The final results were certified by the Lucas County Board of Elections in Toledo, confirming her win over the four-term state representative.
While the Associated Press had initially deemed the race too close to call, Kaptur declared victory just before 2 a.m. the day after Election Day. The race was officially called for her on Wednesday, with the margin of victory falling just outside the 0.5% threshold that would have triggered an automatic recount. Libertarian candidate Tom Pruss captured approximately 4% of the vote.
At 78, Kaptur had been considered one of the more vulnerable incumbents in this election cycle. Ohio’s 9th Congressional District became a major battleground, with over $23 million spent in the race, according to OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan campaign finance tracker.
Despite the heavy spending by special interest groups seeking to distort her record, Kaptur triumphed and thanked her supporters for their trust, marking the beginning of her 22nd term in Congress.
In her victory statement, Kaptur pledged to continue efforts to create jobs, strengthen manufacturing, and ensure stability for hardworking Americans. “It’s time to put partisanship aside and get back to work for America’s ‘Big Middle,’” she said.
Merrin, 38, did not immediately release a statement after the defeat. He had been endorsed by Trump, making this loss notable as Trump’s first defeat in a state he won three times.
Merrin had been a key figure in the Republican caucus, challenging Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens in a bitter internal GOP conflict in 2023. The infighting led to a lack of legislative progress and even legal disputes.
Throughout the campaign, Merrin and his Republican allies attacked Kaptur on issues like immigration and the economy, while Kaptur and Democrats focused on Merrin’s support for controversial abortion restrictions, including his sponsorship of a bill that would have made certain abortions felonies.