Merrin heading for rematch with Kaptur

SANDUSKY — Final results showed how former state Rep. Derek Merrin won a decisive victory in a five-candidate Republican race for the Ninth District U.S. House seat. Merrin — who narrowly lost to U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, in 2024 — earned the right for a rematch this fall. Also, overnight results showed that Matthew Althaus won the Libertarian Party nomination for the seat. In a close election, a Libertarian could play a role in the outcome. Merrin, at least, blamed his 2024 loss on the Libertarian nominee, Tom Pruss. According to unofficial returns posted at the Ohio Secretary of State's office, Merrin got 25,024 votes, an impressive 44% among five candidates. State Rep. Josh Williams came in second with about 25%. Madison Sheahan came in third, with about 20%, despite gaining plenty of publicity when she quit her job as deputy director of ICE to move back to Ohio for the race. The other two candidates were Alea Nadeem and Anthony Bruce Campbell, an Erie County resident. Merrin also carried Erie County, with about 47% of the vote, with Sheahan coming in second. Republicans have redrawn the boundaries of the northwest Ohio district, which includes Erie County, to make it tilt more Republican. The Cook Political Report currently rates the Ninth District race as a toss-up. Sabato's Crystal Ball, a similar site, also rates the race as a toss-up. The Sabato site until recently said the district "leans Republican." Althaus won the Libertarian nomination in the race with 534 votes, defeating David Gedert, who had 365. Gedert also is known as the drag performer Sugar Vermonte and operates a macaroni and cheese food truck in the Toledo area. Althaus also won Erie County, 44-36. Althaus, who also lives in the Toledo area, gave the Register a statement. "For too long, politicians like Marcy Kaptur have measured success by how much government they can grow. Voters want a new path — one that is measured by how much freedom we can restore. We're just getting started to give the voters another option," Althaus said. Libertarians also have several other candidates on the ballot this fall, including for governor and U.S. Senate. Pruss is running this year as the Libertarian candidate for secretary of state. Ninth District U.S. House, Republicans • Derek Merrin: 25,024• Josh Williams: 14,366• Madison Sheahan: 11,467• Alea Nadeem: 3,101 • Anthony B. Campbell: 2,781 Note: According to unofficial results. Source: Ohio Secretary of State