COLUMBUS, Ohio– Democrats will defend three key congressional seats in Ohio on Tuesday, with control of the chamber at stake.
The Republicans’ primary target is 21-year-old U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, the longest-serving woman in the history of the House of Representatives. She faces state Rep. Derek Merrin, a Republican backed by former President Donald Trump, in the closely divided 9th Congressional District that includes Toledo.
Meanwhile, first-term Democrats Emilia Sykes of Akron and Greg Landsman of Cincinnati are defending pickups they made in 2022 among congressional maps recently drawn by Republicans.
Ohio’s congressional map was allowed to proceed in 2022 despite being declared unconstitutional in favor of the Republican Party. The Ohio Supreme Court has approved the district boundaries to remain in place through 2024 as part of a court settlement.
Kaptur, 78, is seen as one of the most vulnerable congressional incumbents of the year, putting Ohio’s 9th District in the middle of a more than $5 million campaign battle.
Her opponent, Merrin, 38, drew statewide attention last year when he failed to win the chairmanship and aligned a Republican caucus with Republican Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens. The ongoing infighting has led to lawsuits and contributed to a historic lack of legislative action this session.
Merrin was recruited to become Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson, then endorsed by Trump, just 18 hours before polls were set to open in a rollercoaster primary in the spring. Johnson became involved after audio surfaced of the leading Republican in the race criticizing Trump, raising concerns about his electability.
Kaptur’s campaign criticized Merrin, a four-term state representative, for his support of strict abortion restrictions, including criminal penalties. She portrayed his views as out of step with Ohio voters overwhelmingly supported an abortion rights amendment in 2023. She was criticized for turning down an invitation from The Blade newspaper to debate Merrin, calling him a “very unserious politician.”
Landsman, 47, a former Cincinnati City Council member, won the district for the first time in 2022, flipping partisan control by defeating 13-term Republican Rep. Steve Chabot.
This year he faces Republican Orlando Sonza in southwestern Ohio’s 1st District. Sonza, 33, is a West Point graduate, former Army infantry officer and head of the Hamilton County Veterans Bureau.
Landsman, who is Jewish, drew attention late in the campaign when a group of pro-Palestinian protesters set up an encampment in front of his home. He characterized the demonstration as intimidation and said he and his family members needed a police escort to enter and leave their home in Cincinnati.
Sykes, 38, spent eight years in the Ohio House, including as minority leader, before her first successful bid for the 13th District in 2022. She has strong name recognition in her native Akron, which her mother and father have both represented in the Ohio House. State House.
Sykes faces Republican Kevin Coughlin, a former state representative and senator, in the closely divided district.
Sykes has campaigned on a message of unity as she tried to win votes from Democrats, Republicans and independents and has made ample use of social media.
Coughlin, 54, has run as a moderate who would honor Ohio’s recently passed abortion rights amendment. He was endorsed by Johnson and Ohio U.S. Representative Jim Jordan. Trump did not endorse anyone in the race.