By Megan Henry
Ohio Capital Journal
COLUMBUS — Marcy Kaptur was re-elected Tuesday for the 22nd time.
First elected in 1982, U.S. Rep. Kaptur increased her margin of victory over her GOP opponent Derek Merrin from the results in 2024, when Merrin came within a half percentage point of defeating her. In the rematch, Kaptur captured 159,306 votes to Merrin’s 142,830, a 53-47% margin, according to the Associated Press.
The AP called the race for Kaptur early this morning.
The GOP majority in the state legislature gerrymandered the 9th district to make it more Republican than it was in 2024. Despite the effort, Kaptur widened her margin of victory by 5 points.
Kaptur is the longest-serving woman in congressional history.
Merrin served four terms as an Ohio state representative for the Toledo district from 2016 to 2025.
Good day Democrats
All five Ohio Democratic incumbents held their U.S. Congressional district seats Tuesday while Democratic challengers have flipped at least two and maybe three Republican seats.
According to Associated Press projections, Ohio Democratic candidate Brian Poindexter won Ohio’s 7th Congressional district, beating incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Max Miller, and Democrat Don Leonard defeated Ohio Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Carey.
Decision Desk HQ projects that Democratic challenger Kristina Knickerbocker also defeated Ohio Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, while the DCCC congratulated her and she gave a victory speech, the Dayton Daily News reports.
The U.S. Capitol on March 3, 2026. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)
As of 4 a.m., Knickerbocker had 149,024 votes, according to unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State’s website, compared to 144,086 for Turner, a difference of 4,938 votes.
Results will remain unofficial until they are certified by election officials later this month.
Nationally, Democratic candidates flipped control of the U.S. House in the Midterm elections Tuesday night.
Miller, who has served in Congress since 2023, is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for allegations he “may have engaged in domestic violence and abuse or illegal drug use.”
Allegations of domestic violence against Miller caused several prominent Republicans to call for his resignation over the summer — a movement led by Miller’s ex-father-in-law, U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno. Miller denies the allegations against him.
Ohio’s 15th Congressional district
Ohio Democrat Don Leonard beat incumbent Ohio Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Carey for Ohio’s 15th Congressional district.
Leonard previously taught regional and city planning at Ohio State University and Carey has served in Congress since 2021.
Ohio’s 1st Congressional District
Democratic U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman won Ohio’s 1st Congressional District, beating Republican Eric Conroy, the Associated Press projected Tuesday.
Landsman has served in Congress since 2023.
Ohio’s 13th District
Ohio Democratic U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes won Ohio’s 13 Congressional District, beating Republican Carey Coleman, the Associated Press projected Tuesday.
Sykes has served in Congress since 2023.
“It is my great honor to be re-elected to represent my community,” she said in a statement.
“I will continue to fight to bring down costs and keep more money in your pockets, address the corruption in Washington that is making politicians rich while Ohioans suffer, and overturn policies that are stripping healthcare and food benefits away from kids and the elderly.”
Ohio’s 10th Congressional District
Ohio’s 10th Congressional district race between incumbent Ohio Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Turner and Democrat Kristina Knickerbocker was too close to call late Tuesday night.
Turner has served in Congress since 2003, and Knickerbocker is an U.S. Air Force Veteran and oncology nurse practitioner.
Ohio’s remaining congressional districts
Republican Ohio U.S. Reps. Dave Taylor, Jim Jordan, Bob Latta, Michael Rulli, Warren Davidson, Troy Balderson, and David Joyce all won their races.
Democratic Ohio U.S. Reps. Joyce Beatty and Shontel Brown both won their races.
Follow Ohio Capital Journal Reporter Megan Henry on X or on Bluesky.
