Republican candidates in Ohio's 9th congressional district participate in a forum in Toledo on April 13, 2026. At the left-side table are Ohio Rep. Josh Williams (L) and Air National Guard Lt. Col. Alea Nadeem (2-L); at the right-side table are (L-R) health care executive Anthony Campbell, former immigration official Madison Sheahan, and former Ohio Rep. Derek Merrin, Courtesy of Toby Miller/VoteR PAC
Republican candidate Derrick Merrin, a former Ohio lawmaker, is getting a second chance at toppling America’s longest-serving member of Congress: Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur.
The race is of national significance because Republicans only narrowly control the House of Representatives; gaining a coveted Democrat-held seat could improve the GOP’s ability to advance the agenda of President Donald Trump.
Janice Hisle mainly writes in-depth reports based on U.S. political news and cultural trends, following a two-year stint covering President Donald Trump’s 2024 reelection campaign. Before joining The Epoch Times in 2022, she worked more than two decades as a reporter for newspapers in Ohio and authored several books. She is a graduate of Kent State University's journalism program. You can reach Janice at: [email protected]
