Current:Home > FinanceDemocrats in Ohio defending 3 key seats in fight for control of US House -Elevate Capital Network
Democrats in Ohio defending 3 key seats in fight for control of US House
View
Date:2025-04-15 02:20:16
Follow live: Updates from AP’s coverage of the presidential election.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Democrats are defending three key congressional seats in Ohio on Tuesday, with control of the chamber in play.
Republicans’ primary target is 21-term U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, the longest-serving woman in House history. She is facing state Rep. Derek Merrin, a Republican endorsed 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 under congressional maps newly drawn by Republicans.
Ohio’s congressional map was allowed to go forward in 2022 despite being declared unconstitutionally gerrymandered to favor the GOP. The Ohio Supreme Court cleared the district boundaries to stay in place for 2024 as part of a court settlement.
9th Congressional District
Kaptur, 78, has been viewed as among the year’s most vulnerable congressional incumbents, placing 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 speakership and aligned a GOP faction against Republican Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens. The ongoing infighting has spawned litigation and contributed to a historic lack of legislative action this session.
Merrin was recruited to run by U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and then endorsed by Trump just 18 hours before polls were set to open in a roller coaster spring primary. Johnson got involved after audio surfaced of the leading Republican in the race criticizing Trump, which raised concerns about his electability.
Kaptur’s campaign criticized Merrin, a four-term state representative, for supporting stringent abortion restrictions, including criminal penalties. She painted his positions as out of step with Ohio voters, who overwhelmingly supported an abortion rights amendment in 2023. She took heat for declining an invitation from The Blade newspaper to debate Merrin, calling him a “deeply unserious politician.”
1st Congressional District
Landsman, 47, a former Cincinnati City Council member, first won the district in 2022, flipping partisan control by defeating 13-term Republican Rep. Steve Chabot.
This year, he faces Republican Orlando Sonza in the 1st District in southwest Ohio. Sonza, 33, is a West Point graduate, former Army infantry officer and head of the Hamilton County veterans services office.
Landsman, who is Jewish, drew attention late in the campaign when a group of pro-Palestinian protesters set up an encampment outside his house. He decried the demonstration as harassment and said that it required him and his family members to get a police escort to enter and exit their Cincinnati home.
13th Congressional District
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 enjoys strong name recognition in her native Akron, which her mother and father have both represented at the Ohio Statehouse.
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 sought to attract 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 supported by Johnson and Ohio U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan. Trump did not endorse anyone in the race.
veryGood! (96473)
Related
- British golfer Charley Hull blames injury, not lack of cigarettes, for poor Olympic start
- 2 San Antonio police officers shot and wounded during domestic disturbance call; suspect surrenders
- Crypto firms Gemini, DCG sued by New York for allegedly bilking investors of $1.1 billion
- How Justin Timberlake Is Feeling Amid Britney Spears' Memoir Revelations
- Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
- Republicans are facing death threats as the election for speaker gets mired in personal feuds
- Israeli child with autism found dead with her grandmother
- AP Week in Pictures: North America
- Google unveils a quantum chip. Could it help unlock the universe's deepest secrets?
- 2 San Antonio police officers shot and wounded during domestic disturbance call; suspect surrenders
Ranking
- US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
- Ranking all 32 NFL teams' throwback and alternate uniforms as Eagles debut Kelly Green
- Why Gwyneth Paltrow Really Decided to Put Acting on the Back Burner
- Hurricanes are now twice as likely to zip from minor to whopper than decades ago, study says
- Taylor Swift makes surprise visit to Kansas City children’s hospital
- Toy Hall of Fame: The 'forgotten five' classic toys up for induction and how fans can vote
- Pioneering L.A. program seeks to find and help homeless people with mental illness
- Ranking all 32 NFL teams' throwback and alternate uniforms as Eagles debut Kelly Green
Recommendation
Megan Fox's ex Brian Austin Green tells Machine Gun Kelly to 'grow up'
Billie Eilish reveals massive new back tattoo, causing mixed social media reactions
Erin Foster Accuses Chad Michael Murray of Cheating on Her With Sophia Bush
Desperate and disaffected, Argentines to vote whether upstart Milei leads them into the unknown
Bodycam footage shows high
Johnny Bananas Unpeels What Makes a Great Reality TV Villain—and Why He Loves Being One
New York judge fired for pointing gun at a Black man in court
Week 8 college football expert picks: Top 25 game predictions led by Ohio State-Penn State