Five Republicans Debate for Ohio’s 9th District Primary Ahead of May Election
Five Republicans faced off in a Toledo debate ahead of Ohio’s May 5 primary to challenge longtime Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur in November.
TOLEDO, OHIO — Five Republican candidates seeking their party’s nomination for Ohio’s 9th Congressional District participated in a debate hosted by VoteRPac, a Toledo organization focused on increasing Republican voter turnout.
The candidates discussed key issues including the Iran War, immigration policies, data center development, and transgender athletes in sports during the recent forum. Republican primary voters will choose among the five contenders on May 5, with early voting currently underway.
The Republican Field
The candidates vying for the nomination are Ohio state Rep. Josh Williams, former Ohio state Rep. Derek Merrin, Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Alea Nadeem, former deputy director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Madison Sheahan, and health care industry worker Anthony Campbell.
The primary winner will face long-time Democratic incumbent Marcy Kaptur in the November general election. Kaptur has represented Ohio’s 9th congressional district since 1983, making her the longest-serving woman in congressional history.
Immigration Takes Center Stage
All five candidates opposed congressional amnesty legislation for undocumented immigrants during the debate. Merrin, who narrowly lost to Kaptur in the 2024 election, emphasized his tough stance on enforcement.
“Amnesty is a disaster,” Merrin said. “It encourages more illegal immigration … I think they need to go home and we need tough enforcement mechanisms. We need secure borders.”
Previous Election Results
The 2024 race between Merrin and Kaptur proved extremely competitive, with Kaptur winning by fewer than 2,500 votes. Merrin received 178,716 votes while Kaptur secured victory with 181,098 votes, highlighting the district’s potential as a swing seat.
The Northwest Ohio district encompasses parts of Toledo and surrounding communities, representing a key battleground for both parties in their efforts to control the House of Representatives.
