Marcy Kaptur

A Republican primary in Northwest Ohio will set the stage for one of the country's most-watched congressional races.

Five Republicans are vying for the chance to take on U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, the longest-serving woman in Congress. Kaptur represents the 9th Congressional District, which includes Toledo and swaths of rural northwest Ohio.

Vying for the GOP nomination are state Rep. Josh Williams, R-Sylvania Township; former state Rep. Derek Merrin, who lost to Kaptur in 2024; Madison Sheahan, former deputy director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Air Force officer Alea Nadeem; and health care data scientist Anthony Campbell.

There's also a Libertarian primary between Matthew Althaus and David Gedert, who is known as the drag queen Sugar Vermonte.

The race for Kaptur's district could help decide which party controls the U.S. House. Republicans hope to flip a seat they've eyed for years and redistricted in their favor. Still, Democrats aren't counting Kaptur out − especially as the GOP faces headwinds from the economy and President Donald Trump's low approval ratings.

Sabato's Crystal Ball rated the district as "leans Republican" − a step below "likely Republican" − and Cook Political Report dubbed it a toss-up.

Polls close in Ohio at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Check back here for updates as the election results roll in.

State government reporter Haley BeMiller can be reached at [email protected] or @haleybemiller on X.