Kaptur defeats Merrin to win 22nd term in Congress

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – Democratic Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur received enough votes to retain her seat in Congress. Ohio’s 9th congressional district following final confirmation of the vote by local county boards of elections on Wednesday.

The vote count shows Rep. Kaptur, the longest-serving woman in the U.S. House of Representatives, defeated her opponent, Republican state Rep. Derek Merrin. Kaptur received 180,692 votes and Merrin received 178,123 votes.

The difference in the vote count between the candidates is only 0.64%, putting the race above the threshold to require a recount.

Kaptur released the following statement on Wednesday after her victory.

“The people of Ohio’s 9th District have spoken, and I am deeply grateful for the trust they have placed in me so that I can continue to fight for working families, create good-paying jobs, protect health care for all, and ensure Social Security and Medicare. so Ohioans can retire with dignity. This campaign has always been about the strength and resilience of our communities, and today we celebrate not just a victory, but a renewed commitment to the belief that what America builds and grows, makes and grows America.

Together, we have built success in Northwest Ohio by reinvesting in our communities, our industries and our people. I am inspired by the hardworking people of our county who fuel our economy every day, and I promise to continue our work to create jobs here at home, strengthen our manufacturing sector, and provide dignity and stability to all who work hard and play by the rules. It’s time to put aside party affiliation and get back to working for America’s Great Middle.” Marcy Kaptur.

Despite the close fight, Kaptur declared victory early the morning after Election Day.

The race was Captur’s closest competition in decades. republicans redraw Ohio’s 9th Congressional District in the 2022 election to make it a toss-up rather than one that was safe for Democrats.

Kaptur won re-election in 2022, defeating Republican J.R. Majewski in the second-closest general election of her career. She received 56.6% of the vote in her new district in 2022.

Her victory in 2022 meant Kaptur would also take the title of longest-serving woman in Congressional history. Kaptur, 78, was first elected to Congress in 1982.

Kaptur was one of five U.S. Democrats running in a district that former President Donald Trump won in 2020.

She is currently serves about the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

Merryn, 38, was previously elected mayor of Waterville when he was 21 and served on the city council when he was 19.

A four-term state representative was term limited in the Ohio House of Representatives.

He found himself at the center of internal leadership. fight to begin his final term in the Ohio House of Representatives. Republican Party internally chose Merrin to be the next House speaker in November 2022, but he lost the formal vote in January 2023 after a group of Republicans sided with Democrats and elected Rep. Jason Stevens of Kitts Hill instead.

Then, in December 2023, House Speaker Mike Johnson recruited Merrin to run for Congress.

The GOP’s initial preferred candidate in the race was former state Rep. Craig Riedel of Defiance. caught on tape criticizing former President Donald Trump and began to lose support from some party members.

Merrin threw his hat into the ring to challenge Kaptur just before the primary filing deadline.

Trump approved Merrin in the primary 18 hours before polls open. He received 52.5% of the vote in the primary, defeating Riedel and former Napoleon Mayor Steve Lankenau. Mayevsky was originally trying again in 2024 to challenge Kaptur. He’s finished fall left the Republican primary two weeks before the election.

The general election campaign was accompanied by a barrage of aggressive advertising from each campaign and outside groups that poured millions of dollars into the district. Cook’s Political Report rating race as “leaning Democratic” ahead of Election Day.

Kaptur declined to discuss Merrin during the general election campaign.

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