Ohio’s 9th District race

D Democratic Marcy Kaptur

Supports fair trade, domestic manufacturing, tax fairness, and lower costs

Marcy Kaptur focuses on middle-class job growth by combating unfair trade agreements, eliminating tax breaks for companies offshoring jobs, and advocating for tariffs to protect local manufacturing. She champions technical skills training for non-college jobs and seeks to lower healthcare and grocery costs. Additionally, she advocates for Glass-Steagall reinstatement to hold Wall Street accountable.

• Opposed trade deals like NAFTA, CAFTA, and China PNTR.
• Pushes to eliminate tax breaks for offshored jobs and supports tariffs protecting local factories.
• Secured funding for local technical skills and job training programs not requiring four-year degrees.
• Introduced the Return to Prudent Banking Act to reinstate Glass-Steagall provisions and separate commercial from investment banking.

“Unfair trade agreements, corporate politicians, Wall Street recklessness, and tax breaks for large corporations that ship our jobs to China and Mexico have decimated America’s middle-class, especially in Northwest Ohio.”

“Marcy isn’t afraid to stand up to Democrats in Congress to defend Ohio. She is fighting to bring jobs home, take away tax breaks from companies that ship jobs overseas, and for tariffs that protect Ohio-based factories and companies.”

R Republican Derek Merrin

Supports tax cuts, fiscal restraint, and deregulation

Derek Merrin advocates for cutting taxes, reining in federal spending, and reducing regulatory burdens to lower living costs. In the Ohio legislature, he led efforts to cut income taxes, eliminate sales taxes on prescription eyewear, and prohibit municipal income taxes on minors. He supports a federal balanced budget constitutional amendment.

• Led state initiatives cutting income taxes, reducing regulations, and repealing sales tax on prescription eyewear.
• Passed legislation prohibiting municipal income taxes on minors (HB 33) and reducing mortgage lender tax burdens (HB 150).
• Signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge and supports a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget.
• Authored the Affordable Homebuilding & Housing Act to freeze property tax hikes on subdivided lots during construction.

“The Biden/Kaptur economic policies are crushing Northwest Ohio families. Kaptur and Biden have instituted a tax-and-spend agenda that has resulted in inflation, outrageous costs at the grocery store, and put future generations of Northwest Ohioans on the hook for a skyrocketing national debt.”

“I support a constitutional amendment to require a balanced budget; America should only spend within our means. We must address the high cost of living, reduce Northwest Ohio’s tax burden, and bring American jobs back to America.”

D Democratic Marcy Kaptur

Supports border enforcement, technology, agent hiring, and comprehensive reform

Marcy Kaptur supports securing the border through technology, hiring over 10,000 border agents, and authorizing military presence at the border if needed. She advocates for severe penalties against fentanyl traffickers and backed the 2024 bipartisan Senate border security agreement negotiated by Sen. James Lankford.

• Voted to hire over 10,000 border patrol agents and deploy border surveillance technology.
• Supported authorizing military assistance at the border when necessary.
• Voted for harsher penalties to lock up fentanyl traffickers.
• Supported the 2024 bipartisan Senate border plan and comprehensive immigration reform.

“Marcy believes in secure borders and legal immigration. She has voted to improve and expand border security, to hire more than 10,000 border agents, and to enable military presence at the border if needed.”

“She’s fought for comprehensive immigration reform, and the 2024 plan negotiated in the Senate by Republican James Lankford.”

R Republican Derek Merrin

Supports military deployment, border wall completion, and mass deportations

Derek Merrin advocates for hardline border enforcement to end illegal immigration and cartel activity. He supports sending the U.S. military to secure the southern border, completing Trump's border wall, and deporting illegal immigrants to protect Northwest Ohio communities.

• Supports deploying the U.S. military to secure the border against drug cartels and human traffickers.
• Pledges to complete the border wall and implement mass deportations of illegal immigrants.
• Blames open-border policies for the influx of illicit fentanyl into local communities.

“The reckless open-border policies of Marcy Kaptur and the Biden administration have allowed mass illegal immigration. Marcy Kaptur never met an illegal immigrant she didn't want to give an American job.”

“As a Member of Congress, I will continue to champion a secure border to ensure the safety of Northwest Ohio families. I support sending the military to secure the border to stop drug cartels and human trafficking. Furthermore, we must finish Trump's wall and deport illegal immigrants.”

D Democratic Marcy Kaptur

Opposes cuts or privatization of entitlement benefits

Marcy Kaptur opposes any cuts or privatization efforts targeting Social Security and Medicare, emphasizing that working people earned these benefits throughout their lives. She works to protect traditional Medicare and lower prescription drug costs for seniors.

• Opposes benefit cuts or privatization of Social Security and Medicare.
• Supports protecting traditional Medicare and lowering prescription drug costs.
• Frames Social Security and Medicare as earned rights for working Americans.

“She has fought to protect Social Security and Medicare from cuts and privatization, because working people have spent years paying into the system and they deserve to be covered.”

R Republican Derek Merrin

Supports protecting benefits, repealing taxes on benefits, and eliminating windfall penalties

Derek Merrin commits to protecting earned Social Security and Medicare benefits for seniors while criticizing Kaptur for overseeing 40 years of program fragility. He supports removing federal taxes on Social Security benefits and repealing windfall penalties that affect retirees.

• Pledges to secure earned Social Security and Medicare benefits for elder Americans.
• Supports eliminating federal taxes on Social Security benefits.
• Supports repealing the windfall provision that penalizes working retirees.

“Over the past 40 years, Marcy Kaptur has stood by as they have become fragile and at risk of becoming insolvent. As a Member of Congress, I will protect our earned benefits that provide safety and security to elder Americans.”

“Also, I support removing the federal tax burden on Social Security benefits as well as eliminating the windfall provision that penalizes hardworking Americans.”

D Democratic Marcy Kaptur

Supports abortion access and opposes federal bans

Marcy Kaptur maintains that reproductive health decisions belong between a woman and her doctor without government interference. She opposes a national abortion ban, particularly bans without exceptions for rape, incest, or life of the mother, and opposes criminalizing healthcare providers.

• Opposes a national abortion ban, including bans lacking exceptions for rape, incest, or life of the mother.
• Opposes the criminalization of reproductive healthcare and medical providers.
• Advocates keeping healthcare choices between women and their doctors.

“A woman’s health decisions must be between a woman and her doctor, not out-of-touch lawmakers. Marcy opposes a national abortion ban, especially a ban that would not make exceptions for rape, incest or life of the mother.”

R Republican Derek Merrin

Opposes abortion; sponsored anti-abortion state legislation

Derek Merrin holds anti-abortion positions and supported anti-abortion measures during his tenure in the Ohio legislature. He successfully sponsored the Down Syndrome Non-Discrimination Act (HB 214) prohibiting abortions based on a Down syndrome diagnosis.

• Sponsored and passed the Down Syndrome Non-Discrimination Act (HB 214) in Ohio.
• Ran on a conservative platform endorsed by pro-life conservative leaders and organizations.

“He prevailed in his pursuit of the Epinephrine Accessibility Act (HB 101) and the Down Syndrome Non-Discrimination Act (HB 214).”

D Democratic Marcy Kaptur

Supports an all-of-the-above energy strategy and Great Lakes restoration

Marcy Kaptur advocates an all-of-the-above energy policy embracing solar, wind, geothermal, and biofuels to foster energy independence and combat climate change. As former chair and ranking member of the Energy and Water Appropriations subcommittee, she led bipartisan efforts to secure funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to combat toxic algal blooms and invasive species.

• Promotes an all-of-the-above energy policy including solar, wind, geothermal, and biofuels.
• Led bipartisan efforts to restore and preserve funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
• Supports home weatherization programs to improve energy efficiency and lower utility costs.
• Introduced the Restoring Communities Left Behind Act to invest in housing and community infrastructure.

“As chair of the Energy and Water subcommittee on Appropriations, Marcy believes we need an “all of the above” energy policy. Whether it’s solar, wind, geo-thermal, or biofuels, our region can lead us into a 21st century energy future not dependent on foreign oil or renewable manufacturers...”

“When the initiative was threatened to be zeroed out, Marcy worked in a bipartisan manner to restore it – and the promise of clean, fresh water for our region.”

R Republican Derek Merrin

Supports fuel tax transparency and infrastructure reform

Derek Merrin's state legislative record on energy and infrastructure focuses on consumer transparency and property reforms. He sponsored the Fuel Tax Transparency Act requiring tax disclosures on gas pumps and passed legislation establishing permanent vehicle registration for non-commercial trailers.

• Sponsored the Fuel Tax Transparency Act (HB 62) requiring state and federal tax stickers on gas pumps.
• Established permanent vehicle registration options for non-commercial trailers (HB 23).

“Additionally, in 2019, Merrin’s Fuel Tax Transparency Act requiring stickers on fuel pumps displaying the state and federal fuel taxes became law through the Transportation Budget (HB 62).”

D Democratic Marcy Kaptur

Supports campaign finance reform and overturning Citizens United

Marcy Kaptur supports overturning Citizens United to curb corporate money in politics and reform campaign spending. She also authored the Financial Crisis Investigation Act to hire 1,000 forensic investigators to prosecute financial crimes.

• Supports repealing Citizens United and limiting election spending.
• Authored the Financial Crisis Investigation Act to fund 1,000 agents investigating financial crimes.
• Supports legislation expanding ballot access for candidates.

“Without campaign finance reform, Democracy is at risk. Marcy Kaptur knows we must reign in special interests and has supported legislation to repeal Citizens United, to limit spending in elections, and to improve access to the ballot for candidates.”

R Republican Derek Merrin

Supports congressional term limits, voter photo ID, and tax levy transparency

Derek Merrin advocates for government accountability through congressional term limits, signing a pledge to limit House members to three terms. In Ohio, he supported strict voter photo ID laws and authored the Ballot Uniformity and Transparency Act to clarify tax levy costs for voters.

• Signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge to limit House members to three terms.
• Played key legislative roles in establishing photo ID requirements for voting in Ohio.
• Authored the Ballot Uniformity and Transparency Act (HB 140) requiring clear fiscal disclosures on tax levies.

“I believe we must impose term limits upon Members of Congress to ensure new leadership that reflects the American population. That’s why I’ve signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge to cosponsor and vote for a constitutional amendment that limits members to three House terms.”

“He played key roles in the requirement to show photo-ID to vote and to allow Ohioans the constitutional right to carry .”

D Democratic Marcy Kaptur

Supports career-technical education and public school funding

Marcy Kaptur emphasizes that workers should not need a four-year degree to secure high-paying jobs. She advocates for job training and career-technical education while supporting public education investments, smaller class sizes, and teacher retention.

• Secured funding for local technical skills and job training programs for non-college jobs.
• Supports public education funding, smaller class sizes, and high-quality teachers.

“Marcy believes that if you’re willing to work hard, then you shouldn’t need a four-year college degree to get a good-paying job. That’s why she is a strong supporter of job training and technical skills programs...”

R Republican Derek Merrin

Supports expanding school choice and trade education for guidance counselors

Derek Merrin championed expanding school choice in Ohio and passed legislation requiring school counselors to receive training at construction trade facilities. He also expanded state tuition benefits for GED recipients through the Forever Buckeye Program.

• Led efforts to expand school choice policies across Ohio.
• Authored state budget provisions requiring school counselors to complete training at trade facilities.
• Expanded the Forever Buckeye Program (HB 371) granting in-state tuition benefits to GED recipients.

“Derek successfully led efforts to cut the state's income tax, reduce regulations, and expand school choice.”

“In the state budget, Merrin spearheaded the requirement for school counselors to receive educational training at construction trades facilities to become knowledgeable about in-demand jobs.”

D Democratic Marcy Kaptur

Supports veterans' benefits, local defense bases, and congressional war power oversight

Marcy Kaptur helped pass the PACT Act to expand healthcare for toxic-exposed veterans and secured funding for V.A. clinics across northern Ohio. She led the 20-year effort to build the National World War II Memorial, secured investments for Toledo's 180th Fighter Wing, and voted against executive Iraq war powers.

• Supported passage of the PACT Act in 2022 expanding veteran healthcare benefits.
• Spearheaded the creation of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.
• Secured funding for V.A. clinics and protected the 180th Fighter Wing in Toledo.
• Voted against authorizing Iraq war powers, supporting congressional oversight of military actions.

“In 2022, she helped pass the PACT Act, marking the largest expansion of benefits and services for veterans in more than 30 years. She’s secured funding for new state-of-the-art V.A.clinics across northern Ohio.”

“Marcy led the nearly two decade effort to build the National World War II Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. resulting in a fitting tribute to the sacrifices of those who fought tyranny and oppression.”

R Republican Derek Merrin

Supports fallen military and first responder families

Derek Merrin's record on military and first responder policy centers on family support. He sponsored the Anthony Dia Act (HB 760) in Ohio, providing college tuition waivers to children and spouses of military service members and law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

• Sponsored the Anthony Dia Act (HB 760) granting college tuition waivers to families of fallen military members and police officers.
• Endorsed by local law enforcement associations, including the Toledo Police Patrolman's Association.

“In 2020, Merrin successfully sponsored the Anthony Dia Act (760) making it easier for children and spouses of law enforcement and military service members killed in the line of duty to access college tuition waivers.”

D Democratic Marcy Kaptur

Supports family farms, urban agriculture, and consensus environmental practices

Marcy Kaptur supports small family farmers, sustainable conservation, and urban agriculture. She opposes corporate farm consolidation and absentee land ownership while advocating for consensus-based environmental solutions around Lake Erie that avoid penalizing local farmers.

• Advocates against corporate farm consolidation and absentee ownership.
• Supports consensus environmental best practices rather than punitive measures on family farms.
• Promotes urban agriculture and regional ecosystem rehabilitation.

“The road to a healthy Lake Erie is not paved with the punishment of family farmers struggling to get by. Solutions to help families maintain farming traditions, as well as prevent the consolidation of farms and spread of absentee owners who aren’t invested in our communities must be found through consensus.”

R Republican Derek Merrin

Supports constitutional carry and gun rights

Derek Merrin is a strong advocate for gun rights who played a key legislative role in establishing constitutional carry in Ohio, allowing residents to carry concealed firearms without a permit.

• Played a key legislative role in enacting constitutional carry in Ohio.
• Pledges to defend Second Amendment rights in Congress.

“He played key roles in the requirement to show photo-ID to vote and to allow Ohioans the constitutional right to carry .”