By Ben Kamisar
The November battle for control of the House is coming into focus in Tuesday’s primaries, as Republicans pick nominees to challenge Democratic incumbents in Ohio and Indiana.
GOP voters nominated former state Rep. Derek Merrin, setting up a rematch with Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur in Ohio’s 9th District — on paper, a district that looks like one of the GOP’s best chances to flip a Democratic-held seat this year.
For years, Republicans have unsuccessfully tried to knock off Kaptur in the Republican-leaning seat. And they were able to make her district even redder as part of a redistricting compromise last year. But candidates have repeatedly stumbled against Kaptur, who has shown resilience on the campaign trail throughout a long career.
2026 Election
Republicans fill out the House battlefield with challengers in key districts
Former state Rep. Derek Merrin will face Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur, NBC News projects, in an Ohio district Trump carried in 2024.
By Ben Kamisar
The November battle for control of the House is coming into focus in Tuesday’s primaries, as Republicans pick nominees to challenge Democratic incumbents in Ohio and Indiana.
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GOP voters nominated former state Rep. Derek Merrin, setting up a rematch with Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur in Ohio’s 9th District — on paper, a district that looks like one of the GOP’s best chances to flip a Democratic-held seat this year.
For years, Republicans have unsuccessfully tried to knock off Kaptur in the Republican-leaning seat. And they were able to make her district even redder as part of a redistricting compromise last year. But candidates have repeatedly stumbled against Kaptur, who has shown resilience on the campaign trail throughout a long career.
Merrin defeated several rivals for the Republican nomination, including state Rep. Josh Williams and Madison Sheahan, the former No. 2 official at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Democrats need to net just three seats to retake control of the House — and a number of GOP districts look vulnerable. Any opportunity for Republicans to go on offense and defeat a Democratic incumbent would be critical to their chances of holding on to the majority.
Republicans also scored an early win last year with that redistricting compromise, which shifted Ohio’s 1st District to one Donald Trump carried by 3 points in 2024. On Tuesday, Republicans anointed Trump-backed Eric Conroy, an Air Force veteran who also worked at the CIA, as their nominee to run against Rep. Greg Landsman in the Cincinnati area.
While Republicans improved their odds in two seats in the redistricting compromise, the Akron-area 13th District held by Democratic Rep. Emilia Sykes moved to the left during redistricting: Then-Vice President Kamala Harris carried it by about 3 points in 2024. Carey Coleman, a former longtime local media talk show host, is the projected Republican primary winner there.
