Current:Home > StocksDemocrats in Ohio defending 3 key seats in fight for control of US House-LoTradeCoin
Democrats in Ohio defending 3 key seats in fight for control of US House
View Date:2024-12-24 07:33:32
Follow live: Updates from AP’s coverage of the presidential election.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Democrats are defending three key congressional seats in Ohio on Tuesday, with control of the chamber in play.
Republicans’ primary target is 21-term U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, the longest-serving woman in House history. She is facing state Rep. Derek Merrin, a Republican endorsed by former President Donald Trump, in the closely divided 9th Congressional District that includes Toledo.
Meanwhile, first-term Democrats Emilia Sykes of Akron and Greg Landsman of Cincinnati are defending pickups they made in 2022 under congressional maps newly drawn by Republicans.
Ohio’s congressional map was allowed to go forward in 2022 despite being declared unconstitutionally gerrymandered to favor the GOP. The Ohio Supreme Court cleared the district boundaries to stay in place for 2024 as part of a court settlement.
9th Congressional District
Kaptur, 78, has been viewed as among the year’s most vulnerable congressional incumbents, placing Ohio’s 9th District in the middle of a more than $5 million campaign battle.
Her opponent, Merrin, 38, drew statewide attention last year when he failed to win the speakership and aligned a GOP faction against Republican Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens. The ongoing infighting has spawned litigation and contributed to a historic lack of legislative action this session.
Merrin was recruited to run by U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and then endorsed by Trump just 18 hours before polls were set to open in a roller coaster spring primary. Johnson got involved after audio surfaced of the leading Republican in the race criticizing Trump, which raised concerns about his electability.
Kaptur’s campaign criticized Merrin, a four-term state representative, for supporting stringent abortion restrictions, including criminal penalties. She painted his positions as out of step with Ohio voters, who overwhelmingly supported an abortion rights amendment in 2023. She took heat for declining an invitation from The Blade newspaper to debate Merrin, calling him a “deeply unserious politician.”
1st Congressional District
Landsman, 47, a former Cincinnati City Council member, first won the district in 2022, flipping partisan control by defeating 13-term Republican Rep. Steve Chabot.
This year, he faces Republican Orlando Sonza in the 1st District in southwest Ohio. Sonza, 33, is a West Point graduate, former Army infantry officer and head of the Hamilton County veterans services office.
Landsman, who is Jewish, drew attention late in the campaign when a group of pro-Palestinian protesters set up an encampment outside his house. He decried the demonstration as harassment and said that it required him and his family members to get a police escort to enter and exit their Cincinnati home.
13th Congressional District
Sykes, 38, spent eight years in the Ohio House, including as minority leader, before her first successful bid for the 13th District in 2022. She enjoys strong name recognition in her native Akron, which her mother and father have both represented at the Ohio Statehouse.
Sykes faces Republican Kevin Coughlin, a former state representative and senator, in the closely divided district.
Sykes has campaigned on a message of unity as she sought to attract votes from Democrats, Republicans and independents and has made ample use of social media.
Coughlin, 54, has run as a moderate who would honor Ohio’s recently passed abortion rights amendment. He was supported by Johnson and Ohio U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan. Trump did not endorse anyone in the race.
veryGood! (69376)
Related
- Mike Williams Instagram post: Steelers' WR shades Aaron Rodgers 'red line' comments
- Jimmy Kimmel, more late-night hosts 'shocked' by Trump Cabinet picks: 'Goblins and weirdos'
- Justice Department says jail conditions in Georgia’s Fulton County violate detainee rights
- Martin Scorsese on faith in filmmaking, ‘The Saints’ and what his next movie might be
- Voters in California city reject measure allowing noncitizens to vote in local races
- New Orleans marks with parade the 64th anniversary of 4 little girls integrating city schools
- The Best Gifts for Men – That He Won’t Want to Return
- Louisiana man kills himself and his 1-year-old daughter after a pursuit
- Watch out, Temu: Amazon Haul, Amazon's new discount store, is coming for the holidays
- Are Dancing with the Stars’ Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber Living Together? She Says…
Ranking
- Firefighters make progress, but Southern California wildfire rages on
- In an AP interview, the next Los Angeles DA says he’ll go after low-level nonviolent crimes
- It's Red Cup Day at Starbucks: Here's how to get your holiday cup and cash in on deals
- Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin to kick off fundraising effort for Ohio women’s suffrage monument
- The charming Russian scene-stealers of 'Anora' are also real-life best friends
- 'Serial swatter': 18-year-old pleads guilty to making nearly 400 bomb threats, mass shooting calls
- Beyoncé has released lots of new products. Here's a Beyhive gift guide for the holidays
- Bohannan requests a recount in Iowa’s close congressional race as GOP wins control of House
Recommendation
-
Mississippi Valley State football player Ryan Quinney dies in car accident
-
It's Red Cup Day at Starbucks: Here's how to get your holiday cup and cash in on deals
-
Who will save Florida athletics? Gators need fixing, and it doesn't stop at Billy Napier
-
Bodyless head washes ashore on a South Florida beach
-
Women suing over Idaho’s abortion ban describe dangerous pregnancies, becoming ‘medical refugees’
-
Ex-Marine misused a combat technique in fatal chokehold of NYC subway rider, trainer testifies
-
Jimmy Kimmel, more late-night hosts 'shocked' by Trump Cabinet picks: 'Goblins and weirdos'
-
Jennifer Hudson, Kylie Minogue and Billy Porter to perform at Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade