Watch: In 9th district, 'cone of silence' is a campaign tactic

War? No comment. Deportation teams in Springfield? No comment. Campaign 2026? No comment.

Mar 22, 2026

SANDUSKY — In his latest campaign dispatch, former state Rep. Derek Merrin told supporters it’s time to retire U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur “after 43 years of failed leadership.”

Despite the rhetoric, Merrin has maintained a limited public profile on the campaign trail. After state lawmakers redrew the Congressional maps for the second time in four years, Kaptur remains statistically vulnerable. Merrin nearly defeated her in 2024, losing by a margin of 0.64%, less than 3,000 votes.

Currently, Merrin’s strategy centers on private meetings with leaders across the district’s eight counties. He has not made public comments regarding inflation, recent military incursions, or the high price of gas. His campaign staff does not respond to calls or written inquiries, and Merrin himself does not respond to press inquiries.

“Most important we must deliver on the America First agenda to uplift our region and uplift our country,” Merrin stated in a Friday post he made while visiting Perkins Township.

Merrin, Sheahan and state Rep. Joshua Williams are three of the five candidates running for the 9th U.S. Congressional District Republican Party nomination.

Unanswered Questions

The silence from the Republican field comes amid a series of significant federal actions over the last 12 months. The Trump administration has deployed paramilitary teams into several U.S. cities, entered two foreign conflicts, and halted aid to Ukraine. Domestically, there have been two government shutdowns, Trump is trying to federalize elections and he is currently moving to repeal visas for 10,000 to 15,000 Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio.

While there are five candidates seeking the Republican nomination in the 9th District, voters have received few answers beyond statements of support for the President.

Sheahan campaign

Former Homeland Security Deputy Director Madison Sheahan has been similarly elusive since announcing her candidacy on Jan. 15. Her entry into the race came one week after ICE agents under her killed Renee Good in Minneapolis, and two weeks before the death of Alex Pretti.

While former Homeland Security Director Kristi Noem—Sheahan’s mentor—initially described the deceased as violent threats, video evidence and subsequent reports have identified them as peaceful protestors.

Sheahan has not commented on these incidents or specific policy issues since launching her bid. She been a vocal advocate for ICE operations in the past.

“We’re going to enforce as written,” Sheahan declared in a video recorded last year. “We don’t pick winners or losers.”

That’s the sharpest tongue and as deep as it gets on the Republican Primary campaign trail for the right to run against U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, in November. After state lawmakers gerrymandered the state’s Congressional maps earlier this year for the second time in four years, Kaptur is more vulnerable than ever in this race.

Merrin nearly defeated her two years ago, losing by a razor-thin margin of .64% of the vote. He’s not risking anything this time, especially right now, waiting for Trump’s blessing. Merrin’s has done a lot of visiting with county leaders in each of the district’s eight counties, private conversations in private meetings.

Beyond Merrin and Sheahan, the GOP primary includes Josh Williams, Alea Nadeem, and Anthony Campbell. To date, Williams and Nadeem are the only candidates who have submitted responses to regional media questionnaires. The remaining candidates have largely avoided public forums, offering only general statements of support for the White House or no statements at all.