Trump endorses Merrin for Congress

SANDUSKY — President Donald Trump stayed out of the Republican primary for the Ninth District U.S. House race, but now that GOP voters picked a winner, he's weighed in. The president would like voters in the district to know that he strongly backs the Republican candidate running against Marcy Kaptur. "Derek Merrin has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Representative from Ohio's 9th Congressional District – HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!" Trump wrote on TruthSocial, his favorite social media service. The president took time to detail what he saw as the top issues in the election, saying that Merrin will work to cut taxes and red tape, support American-made goods, work to secure the border, support the military and defend the Second Amendment. Trump also criticized Kaptur, detailing the issues where he differs from her, and describing her as "Reckless, Radical and Dangerous!" The Kaptur campaign and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee did not respond to requests for comment. Kaptur, not particularly a Trump fan, has sharply criticized him in recent messages on Bluesky. "Giving $1.8 Billion to violent rioters who beat police and smeared feces on the walls of the Capitol isn't a good use of taxpayer funds — it's an outrage! I stand with our brave law enforcement officers and will not let up in the fight to stop this corrupt slush fund," Kaptur wrote in one post. "When I talk to people in NW Ohio they tell me they can't afford gas for the car, food for healthy meals, or the cost of healthcare. I have yet to meet a single one who wants to spend $1 Billion on a gilded ballroom. Let the President's Billionaire pals pay for the ballroom—my people can't afford it," Kaptur wrote in another recent post. The timing of Trump's endorsement seems interesting. Merrin, a former state representative, emerged as the winner in a five person GOP primary. One of the losers, Madison Sheahan, was a Trump administration official. She was the deputy director of ICE before she quit to return home and enter the primary. Sheahan, like all the candidates in the race, could have used a Trump endorsement, but her campaign didn't take off and Trump stayed out of the primary. Sheahan finished in third place, with about 20%, behind Merrin (about 44%) and state Rep. Josh Williams (about 25%).