Kaptur, Merrin Face Rematch in Ohio's Ninth
Longtime Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur seeks a 23rd term against former Republican state Rep. Derek Merrin in a race expected to be among Ohio's tightest.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Democratic U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur is seeking re-election to a 23rd term against Republican Derek Merrin, a former state representative, in the race for Ohio's Ninth Congressional District. Two bomb threats temporarily shuttered a Toledo polling location for about two hours on election day.
Why it matters
Kaptur beat Merrin by fewer than 2,400 votes in 2024, and the rematch carries significance for control of the Northwest Ohio district. For Toledo residents, the district's outcome determines who represents their city in Congress.
Kaptur's 2024 victory margin of under 2,400 votes stands in sharp contrast to her 78,000-vote win in 2020 and 35,293-vote win in 2022, underscoring how competitive the seat has become. Whether the bomb threats affected turnout at the Toledo site has not been reported.
The players
Marcy Kaptur
A Democratic U.S. Representative who has held Ohio's Ninth District seat since 1982 and is the longest-serving woman in congressional history, known for her work on the House Appropriations Committee.
Derek Merrin
A former Republican Ohio State Representative who began his political career on the Waterville City Council at age 19 and is challenging Kaptur for a second time.
The details
Kaptur, first elected to Congress in 1982, became the longest-serving woman in congressional history in January 2023 and serves on the House Appropriations and Budget committees. Merrin, who became a Waterville City Council member at 19 and was later appointed to an Ohio House vacancy in 2016, is seeking to unseat her.
Timeline
1982: Marcy Kaptur first elected to Congress.
2016: Derek Merrin appointed to fill a vacant Ohio House seat.
January 2023: Kaptur becomes the longest-serving woman in congressional history.
2024: Kaptur defeats Merrin by fewer than 2,400 votes.
Nov. 3, 2026: Election day, with two bomb threats shuttering a Toledo polling site for about two hours.
Big Picture
The 2026 rematch follows the 2024 contest, which Kaptur won by fewer than 2,400 votes, making it one of the closest congressional races in the state. Its outcome will show whether that narrow margin reflected a durable shift in the Ninth District.
Toledo voters in the Ninth District will decide whether Kaptur keeps her seat, directly shaping the federal funding and appropriations decisions she influences. Residents who vote should confirm their polling location in advance, since one Toledo site was disrupted on election day.
The takeaway
Narrow margins in congressional races mean individual votes can carry outsized weight in outcomes. Checking polling locations ahead of time helps ensure voters can reach their site even if disruptions occur.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in Toledo Elections.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Record-Courier.
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