Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) has secured her position as one of the longest-serving House members, according to certified results on Nov. 20.
Kaptur, 78, faced a tough challenge in her reelection bid, with Republicans targeting her seat in hopes of gaining an additional seat in the House.
In the election, Kaptur received 48.3 percent of the vote, while her Republican opponent, state Rep. Derek Merrin, received 47.6 percent. Libertarian candidate Tom Pruss received 4 percent of the vote. The Lucas County Board of Elections certified the results, with Kaptur receiving 109,693 votes in the county compared to Merrin’s 72,592.
Although Kaptur has historically won reelection easily, her margin of victory has narrowed in recent years. In the 2022 election, she won with 55 percent of the vote.
While the margin of victory in the 2024 race was 0.7 percent, falling outside the 0.5 percent threshold for an automatic recount, Merrin still has the option to request a recount.
Both the Kaptur and Merrin campaigns did not respond to requests for comment.
Republicans currently hold 218 seats in the House, with Democrats at 213. Kaptur’s victory ensures that Republicans will maintain a majority of one in the next Congress, which will convene on Jan. 3, 2025.
The race garnered significant attention, with over $23 million spent on campaigning, according to spending tracker OpenSecrets.
Merrin campaigned on a platform of changing priorities, focusing on securing the U.S.–Mexico border and supporting term limits for members of Congress. The National Republican Congressional Committee had high hopes for Merrin’s chances against the incumbent.
Kaptur emphasized her role as a voice for Ohioans on important issues such as job creation and environmental protection, particularly for the Great Lakes region.
In other ongoing House races, ballots are still being processed in Alaska and California, with tight contests between incumbents and challengers.
Overall, Kaptur’s reelection solidifies the Republican majority in the House, setting the stage for the next Congress to begin its session in January.
