Republican Congressional Candidate Derek Merrin Vows Victory for Ohio’s 9th Congressional District

PUTNAM COUNTY, Ohio—Of all the Congressional races to watch throughout the country, Ohio’s 9th Congressional District may be the most significant. The race involves rematches and new maps, as Republican Derek Merrin looks to unseat Democrat Rep. Marcy Kaptur.

The Daily Signal spoke with Merrin last week as he made campaign appearances with key Republicans just a few weeks before the election.

Ahead of his remarks on stage at the Putnam County Lincoln-Reagan Republican Dinner last Thursday, in a county that was added to the district, Merrin discussed his strategy for winning and how he aims to retire the incumbent who has been in office longer than he’s been alive

“Well, Marcy didn’t get 50% of the vote. The majority of the people rejected Marcy Kaptur,” Merrin said. “There was a third-party Libertarian in there that got 4.1% that played the spoiler in the race.”

In 2024, Kaptur won by just 0.7%, with 48.3% to Merrin’s 47.6% of the vote. When asked whether he lost that race or Kaptur won it, Merrin pointed to the role that the Libertarian candidate, Tom Pruss, played.

Merrin also insisted he could win a rematch, given that his campaign “has a lot of momentum this cycle,” which includes higher name recognition. “We have more resources, and people have had two more years to grow tired of Marcy Kaptur and look at her liberal voting record, and they’re ready to reject her,” he said.

While the new district has meant making new introductions, Merrin remains confident about victory. “They know how liberal Marcy Kaptur is. Her reputation precedes herself,” he said.

President Donald Trump won Ohio’s 9th District by over 6.7%, or 10.6% under the newly drawn lines.

This year’s race could be easier for Merrin because of redistricting. However, he doesn’t have Trump on the ballot with him this time—though he does have his endorsement.

Ohio was required to redraw congressional maps for 2026, with a bipartisan commission agreeing unanimously to a map late last year. The 9th Congressional District became much more favorable for Republicans, the 1st District became slightly more favorable to GOP candidates, and the 13th District became more favorable to Democrat Rep. Emilia Sykes.

Merrin told the Daily Signal that is main strategy is to target the congresswoman’s record.

“Voters don’t like Washington, and Marcy Kaptur is Washington. She’s been there for 43 years, and there is a lot of concern and frustration with gas prices [and] inflation,” Merrin said.

On the topic of inflation, a major concern of voters, Merrin argued that “a lot of that has to do with inheriting the mess from Joe Biden that we did. I believe the voters realize that a 43-year career politician is not the solution.”

Merrin also spoke about his own record in office.

“I voted against raising gas taxes in the state Legislature. Marcy Kaptur voted to raise gas taxes in the federal level,” Merrin said, drawing a contrast that would likely resonate with Ohio voters.

“Marcy Kaptur never saw a tax increase she didn’t want to levy on the American worker. Marcy Kaptur has never seen a regulation she didn’t want to take and strangle a small business with. And Marcy Kaptur’s never met an illegal immigrant she didn’t want to give an American job to,” he continued.

Other Ohio Republicans, including Sen. Jon Husted, have also focused on immigration, which Trump has raised during rallies with Ohio Republican candidates. When asked if immigration was a unifying issue for Republicans, Merrin offered that it was “the Democratic Party’s craziness [that] has united Republicans.”

“I mean, their policy prescriptions are proven disaster. Do we want to lower the cost of living? Well, we’re not going to raise taxes like they want to. They want more regulations. They want to flood our country with more illegal immigrants, and Ohioans in Northwest Ohio know those aren’t the solutions. So, that’s why I’m confident we ultimately prevail here.”

The interview didn’t merely touch upon what has unified Republicans, but also what has caused division in the party—namely, Trump’s tariffs.

Asked where he stood on tariffs, Merrin offered what he supports and doesn’t support, and what he could support in the future.

“I don’t support tariffs that raise the cost of consumer goods. President Trump has been fighting for fair trade agreements, and I want to see us have fair trade agreements,” Merrin said. “The president is using tariffs as a tool to try to have equitable treatment with our goods and our businesses. It’s not fair that some countries have five times the tariffs on our products than we do. So, the president is trying to have fairness.”

Kaptur’s record came up again, this time with another topic that has been resonating with voters: transgender issues.

In May, Kaptur and seven other Democrats voted with Republicans on a bill requiring parental consent before schools change a student’s gender on forms or sex-based accommodations. Kaptur even touted this vote in ads, which has ruffled the feathers of local Democrats.

Merrin challenged the idea that Kaptur is moderate on LGBTQ+ issues.

“Marcy Kaptur … supports and has voted to allow men to play women’s sports. She has co-sponsored the radical Equality Act six times that not only allows men to play women’s sports but allows men to access the locker rooms and restrooms,” Merrin said, adding that “95% of the public is against that.”

“Marcy Kaptur is a liberal. She’s a radical. She’s completely out of step with voters in Northwest Ohio, and that is another reason why we’re going to be victorious in November.”

A spokesperson for the Kaptur campaign responded to Merrin’s criticism and touted the congresswoman’s record.

“Every month, Northwest Ohio families pay for Derek Merrin’s votes on their electric bills. … He voted for the FirstEnergy bailout and handed more tax breaks to data centers. Marcy Kaptur doesn’t take orders from corporations or party bosses,” the spokesperson said.

“She’s spent her career taking on corruption in both parties, brought billions home to Northwest Ohio, secured funding to construct the Ottawa County Border Patrol station, and worked across the aisle to secure our border. Billionaires and Washington insiders are bankrolling Derek because they know he’ll do as he’s told,” the spokesperson for Kaptur added.

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