Kaptur keeps 9th District

SANDUSKY — U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, won re-election in a contest that wasn't decided until early Wednesday morning. At about 2:40 a.m, final late results were released by Lucas County's election board — and the tally showed that Kaptur won, capturing about 53% of the vote, according to unofficial results. Kaptur defeated Republican Derek Merrin, the GOP candidate she also defeated in 2024. "I am deeply honored that the people of Northwest Ohio have placed their trust in me to represent them in the 120th Congress," Kaptur said in a statement issued by her campaign. "Despite millions in outside spending and a map statehouse Republicans redrew three times to make this one of the toughest districts in our country, voters delivered us a clear victory last night. I return to the House more determined than ever to deliver for the people of Northwest Ohio — bringing home the investments our hardworking people and communities need and deserve, lowering costs for working families, rooting out corruption, and building an economy that rewards work, not just wealth," Kaptur said. Merrin conceded with a statement posted at X.com. "Congratulations to Marcy Kaptur on her victory," he wrote. He also wrote, "It was an honor to be the Republican nominee for Congress. I want to express my gratitude to all the Ohioans who gave me their trust and vote. "Although we lost the race, our team gave 100% effort and left it all on the field." Hours after the nine other counties in the 9th U.S. House District had posted final unofficial results, which include Erie County, Lucas County finally released its absentee ballot results at about 2 a.m. Wednesday, giving Kaptur a slight lead after she had trailed in the election for hours. At 2 a.m., she suddenly led by about 1,000 total votes. And, at about 2:40 a.m., Lucas County's election board released the rest of the results, showing that she had won by more than 15,000 votes. According to WTOL, Lucas County voting results were delayed due to a last-minute postal delivery of absentee ballots. There was also a bomb threat at one Lucas County polling place, which also complicated the process. Unofficial results showed that Kaptur lost in Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Ottawa, Paulding, Putnam and Williams counties. However, she carried Lucas County and also won in Wood County and Erie County, which she carried with 16,368 votes compared to 15,431 votes for Merrin. Kaptur's margin of victory this time was larger than when she defeated Merrin and a Libertarian candidate in 2024. In Tuesday's race, she won about 53% of the vote, compared to about 47% for Merrin. In 2024, Kaptur won about 48.3% and Merrin about 47.6%, with another approximately 4% going to the Libertarian in the race, Tom Pruss. Also Tuesday, Democrats apparently flipped three U.S. House seats in Ohio held by incumbent Republicans, including the 7th District seat in the Cleveland area, where Democrat Brian Poindexter defeated incumbent Max Miller. 9th U.S. House District • Marcy Kaptur: 159,306 • Derek Merrin: 142,830 Note: According to unofficial results Source: Ohio Secretary of State live results