Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur won reelection against Republican Derek Merrin in one of the most closely contested House races this year, the Associated Press projected.
Kaptur, the longest-serving woman in the House, represented a safe district for many years that became redder in recent redistricting, making it one of Republicans’ top targets this cycle.
She and Merrin, an Ohio state representative, had sparred over immigration at the southern border as Merrin tried to hitch Kaptur to President Joe Biden’s policies. The Democrat is ranking member of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee.
Merrin had emerged from a messy primary this cycle as Republican leaders maneuvered to stave off a repeat of the 2022 cycle, when Kaptur bested a GOP candidate with personal issues.
