GOTV Intel

Derek Merrin

Candidate for Ohio 9th Congressional District · Republican

On the 2026 ballotChallenger · Ohio 9th Congressional District · Nov 3 General

Ballot status source: Ohio Secretary of State — Summary Level Official Results, May 5, 2026 Primary Election: Representative to Congress - District 09 — Republican primary — 'Derek Merrin' 25,092 · read Sep 24, 2026

Sources (3)
  • Ohio Secretary of State — Summary Level Official Results, May 5, 2026 Primary Election: Representative to Congress - District 09 — Republican primary — 'Derek Merrin' 25,092 (nominee)
  • Ohio county-certified general-election lists not obtained (U.S. House candidates are certified by the most-populous county's board)
  • nominee per certified results
Order a GOTV Intel ReportWho Is Running for This Seat

The District

What Ohio 9th Congressional District covers

Covers all of Putnam County, Williams County, Henry County, Paulding County, Defiance County, Fulton County, Lucas County, Ottawa County and Erie County.

Map of Ohio 9th Congressional District with 596 precincts

596 precincts · District lines: Congressional lines: enacted plan "Congressional Redistricting Plan Adopted by the Ohio Redistricting Commission" (Ohio Const. Art. XIX; adopted unanimously by the Ohio Redistricting Commission Oct 31, 2025; Secretary of State Directive 2025-55); 2026 status: In effect for 2026 through 2032 (commission plan adopted with bipartisan support; no pending challenge). Official file https://maps.ohio.gov/arcgis/rest/services/Hosted//FeatureServer/0

Results

Certified results for Ohio 9th Congressional District

Representative to Congress - District 09

Ohio General Election 2024-11-05 · Nov 5, 2024
CandidateVotesShare
Marcy KapturDemocrat181,09848.3%
Derek MerrinRepublican178,71647.6%
Tom PrussLibertarian15,3814.1%

Official canvass — Ohio Secretary of State · Ohio Secretary of State — Official Election Results

Sources (2)
  • Official canvass — Ohio Secretary of State (statewide races by precinct). File retrieved from Internet Archive capture 20251216225505 of the SOS URL because ohiosos.gov blocks automated downloads
  • write-in candidates have no precinct detail in the SOS file

Representative to Congress - District 09

Ohio General Election 2022-11-08 · Nov 8, 2022
CandidateVotesShare
Marcy KapturDemocrat150,65556.6%
J.R. MajewskiRepublican115,36243.4%

Official canvass — Ohio Secretary of State · Ohio Secretary of State — Official Election Results

Sources (2)
  • Official canvass — Ohio Secretary of State (statewide races by precinct). File retrieved from Internet Archive capture 20251204011955 of the SOS URL because ohiosos.gov blocks automated downloads
  • write-in candidates have no precinct detail in the SOS file

Representative to Congress - District 09

Ohio General Election 2020-11-03 · Nov 3, 2020
CandidateVotesShare
Marcy KapturDemocrat190,32863.1%
Rob WeberRepublican111,38536.9%

Official canvass — Ohio Secretary of State · Ohio Secretary of State — Official Election Results

Sources (2)
  • Official canvass — Ohio Secretary of State (statewide races by precinct). File retrieved from Internet Archive capture 20250916084702 of the SOS URL because ohiosos.gov blocks automated downloads
  • write-in candidates have no precinct detail in the SOS file

Key Votes

The record

  • Ohio H.B. 68 (135th GA): Enact Ohio Saving Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act — voted Yes

    Ohio House floor vote · Final House vote (per official record: Passed); House passage 64–28 on 2023-06-21, Merrin Yes · tally 65–28 (yeas–nays) · Passed · 135th General Assembly

    Jan 10, 2024 · Official · Ohio General Assembly — vote breakdown · source

  • Ohio H.B. 33 (135th GA): Establishes operating appropriations for fiscal years 2024-2025 — voted Yes

    Ohio House floor vote · Conference report (final) · tally 67–30 (yeas–nays) · Passed · 135th General Assembly

    Jun 30, 2023 · Official · Ohio General Assembly — vote breakdown · source

  • Ohio H.B. 8 (135th GA): Enact the Parents' Bill of Rights — voted Yes

    Ohio House floor vote · House passage; House concurred 57–31 on 2024-12-18, Merrin Yes · tally 65–29 (yeas–nays) · Passed · 135th General Assembly

    Jun 21, 2023 · Official · Ohio General Assembly — vote breakdown · source

  • Ohio S.J.R. 2 (135th GA): Proposed constitutional amendment: require 60% vote to approve any constitutional amendment — voted Yes

    Ohio House floor vote · House adoption · tally 62–37 (yeas–nays) · Adopted · 135th General Assembly

    May 10, 2023 · Official · Ohio General Assembly — vote breakdown · source

  • Ohio H.B. 33 (135th GA): Establishes operating appropriations for fiscal years 2024-2025 — voted No

    Ohio House floor vote · House passage of the House version · tally 78–19 (yeas–nays) · Passed · 135th General Assembly

    Apr 26, 2023 · Official · Ohio General Assembly — vote breakdown · source

  • Ohio H.B. 458 (134th GA): Eliminate August special elections except for US House nomination — voted Yes

    Ohio House floor vote · House concurrence · tally 55–34 (yeas–nays) · Passed · 134th General Assembly

    Dec 14, 2022 · Official · Ohio General Assembly — vote breakdown · source

  • Ohio H.B. 99 (134th GA): Regards persons authorized to go armed within school safety zone — voted Yes

    Ohio House floor vote · House concurrence · tally 56–35 (yeas–nays) · Passed · 134th General Assembly

    Jun 1, 2022 · Official · Ohio General Assembly — vote breakdown · source

  • Ohio S.B. 215 (134th GA): Regards concealed handgun licensee duties — voted Yes

    Ohio House floor vote · House passage · tally 58–36 (yeas–nays) · Passed · 134th General Assembly

    Mar 2, 2022 · Official · Ohio General Assembly — vote breakdown · source
Show all 20 recorded votes

  • Ohio H.B. 110 (134th GA): Creates appropriations for FY 2022-2023 — voted Yes

    Ohio House floor vote · Conference report · tally 84–13 (yeas–nays) · Passed · 134th General Assembly

    Jun 28, 2021 · Official · Ohio General Assembly — vote breakdown · source

  • Ohio H.B. 126 (134th GA): Regards process for local governments to contest property value (primary sponsor: Merrin) — voted Yes

    Ohio House floor vote · House passage; House concurred 61–35 on 2022-04-06 · tally 62–31 (yeas–nays) · Passed · 134th General Assembly

    Apr 15, 2021 · Official · Ohio General Assembly — vote breakdown · source

  • Ohio S.B. 22 (134th GA): Establish legislative oversight over Governor's and health orders — voted Yes

    Ohio House floor vote · Final House vote (per official record: Passed); House passage 57–38 on 2021-03-10, Merrin Yes · tally 62–35 (yeas–nays) · Passed · 134th General Assembly

    Mar 24, 2021 · Official · Ohio General Assembly — vote breakdown · source

  • Ohio H.B. 128 (134th GA): Revise electric utility service law; repeal portions of HB 6 — voted Yes

    Ohio House floor vote · House passage; concurred 89–0 on 2021-03-25 · tally 86–7 (yeas–nays) · Passed · 134th General Assembly

    Mar 10, 2021 · Official · Ohio General Assembly — vote breakdown · source

  • Ohio H.B. 197 (133th GA): Make technical and corrective changes to tax law (co-sponsor: Merrin) — voted Yes

    Ohio House floor vote · House concurrence · tally 92–0 (yeas–nays) · Passed · 133th General Assembly

    Mar 25, 2020 · Official · Ohio General Assembly — vote breakdown · source

  • Ohio H.B. 6 (133th GA): Creates Ohio Clean Air Program — voted Yes

    Ohio House floor vote · House concurrence; House passage 53–43 on 2019-05-29, Merrin Yes · tally 51–38 (yeas–nays) · Passed · 133th General Assembly

    Jul 23, 2019 · Official · Ohio General Assembly — vote breakdown · source

  • Ohio H.B. 166 (133th GA): Creates FY 2020-2021 operating budget — voted Yes

    Ohio House floor vote · Conference report · tally 75–17 (yeas–nays) · Passed · 133th General Assembly

    Jul 17, 2019 · Official · Ohio General Assembly — vote breakdown · source

  • Ohio S.B. 23 (133th GA): Prohibit abortion if detectable heartbeat — voted Yes

    Ohio House floor vote · House passage · tally 56–40 (yeas–nays) · Passed · 133th General Assembly

    Apr 10, 2019 · Official · Ohio General Assembly — vote breakdown · source

  • Ohio H.B. 62 (133th GA): Creates FY 2020-2021 transportation budget — voted No

    Ohio House floor vote · Final House vote; also voted No on House passage 2019-03-07 (71–27) · tally 70–27 (yeas–nays) · Passed · 133th General Assembly

    Apr 2, 2019 · Official · Ohio General Assembly — vote breakdown · source

  • Ohio H.B. 228 (132th GA): Regards self-defense and handling firearms — voted Yes

    Ohio House floor vote · Final House vote (per official record: Passed); House passage 65–32 on 2018-11-14, Merrin Yes · tally 67–22 (yeas–nays) · Passed · 132th General Assembly

    Dec 27, 2018 · Official · Ohio General Assembly — vote breakdown · source

  • Ohio H.B. 49 (132th GA): Creates FY 2018-2019 operating budget — voted Yes

    Ohio House floor vote · Conference report · tally 59–40 (yeas–nays) · Passed · 132th General Assembly

    Jun 28, 2017 · Official · Ohio General Assembly — vote breakdown · source

  • Ohio H.B. 101 (132th GA): Improve access to epinephrine (primary sponsor: Merrin) — voted Yes

    Ohio House floor vote · House passage; House concurred 88–0 on 2018-12-27 · tally 96–0 (yeas–nays) · Passed · 132th General Assembly

    May 10, 2017 · Official · Ohio General Assembly — vote breakdown · source

Newest first. A close vote was decided by 5% of the votes cast or less (or 10 votes or fewer, under a fifth of the votes). Broke with party: voted against most of their party, where the record gives the party split.

Their Money

Campaign finance

Last Change
Profile updated · Sep 25
Raised
$1,273,038cycle to date through Jun 30
Cash on Hand
$511,443cycle to date through Jun 30
Spent
$761,595cycle to date through Jun 30
Debts Owed
$88,352cycle to date through Jun 30
Next Report Due
Q3 Report · Oct 15

View on FEC.govFEC, cycle to date through Jun 30, 2026

Top Payees

Who the campaign paid most, as its filing reports it.

  • MATCHSTICK MEDIA · placed media$75.0K
  • CAMP POLITICAL LLC · direct mail services$73.1K
  • GOAL LINE STRATEGIES LLC · strategy consulting$66.0K
  • FULFILLMENT SOLUTIONS INC. · direct mail services$37.7K
  • POSTAGE FOR DIRECT MAIL FUNDRAISING, LLC · direct mail services$31.6K

Campaign finance — DEREK MERRIN FOR CONGRESS: July Quarterly 2026, through Jun 30, 2026

Jun 30, 2026 · Official · Federal Election Commission

Finance Reports

  • Financial disclosure — Candidate report 2026

    Candidate report (2026), covering 01/01/2025–07/14/2026; filed 08/13/2026. Reports 51 assets; highest reported ranges: Rental Property $100,001–$250,000; Rental Property $100,001–$250,000; Bitcoin $50,001–$100,000; Rental Property $50,001–$100,000; 47 others at or below $50,001–$100,000. Liabilities: Credit (Charles Schwab) $50,001–$100,000; Real Estate Loan (Citizens National Bank (Ohio)) $100,001–$250,000; Loan (American Express) $15,001–$50,000; 4 more. Also: 2 agreement(s).

    Aug 13, 2026 · Official · Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives

  • Campaign finance — DEREK MERRIN FOR CONGRESS: July Quarterly 2026, through Jun 30, 2026

    Raised $1,273,037.81 this cycle · spent $761,594.66 · cash on hand $511,443.15 · debts owed by the committee $88,351.80 — through Jun 30, 2026. Where the money came from (cycle to date, as reported): Individuals $451,814.26 (35%); PACs and other political committees $116,900.00 (9%); Transfers from authorized committees $392,081.85 (31%); Loans made or guaranteed by the candidate $310,000.00 (24%). Where it went (itemized operating expenditures this cycle, FEC-processed through Sep 20, 2026): direct mail $179.0K; other $119.9K; general consulting $98.2K; fundraising $23.2K; compliance/treasurer $22.6K; polling $10.0K.

    Jun 30, 2026 · Official · Federal Election Commission

  • Financial disclosure — Candidate report 2025

    Candidate report (2025), covering 01/01/2024–06/30/2025; filed 07/29/2025. Reports 55 assets; highest reported ranges: Bitcoin $100,001–$250,000; Rental Property $100,001–$250,000; Rental Property $100,001–$250,000; Rental Property $50,001–$100,000; 51 others at or below $50,001–$100,000. Liabilities: Loan (US Bank) $10,000–$15,000; Loan (US Bank) $15,001–$50,000; Loan (American Express) $15,001–$50,000; 7 more. Earned income: State Representative, State of Ohio. Also: 2 agreement(s).

    Jul 29, 2025 · Official · Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives

Money shows as the filings named here report it. Payees are who the campaign paid; individual contributors are not shown.

Advertising

Who is advertising for and against Derek

  • Advertising summary — for and against (2026 cycle)

    For: own campaign $0 on Google; outside Google ads $55,031–$66,395; Snap $0; broadcast TV not searched; FEC independent expenditures $30,190. Against: outside Google ads $90,000–$110,000; opponent campaign ads $0–$0; Snap $0; broadcast TV not searched; FEC independent expenditures $328,226. 2026 cycle. Broadcast TV: not yet searched. Meta not included.

    Sep 24, 2026 · Official · Ads summary (2026 cycle)

  • Google/YouTube ads — NO GOING BACK PAC INC. (supporting)

    NO GOING BACK PAC INC. — supporting this candidate (evidence: schedule e). 10 ads since Nov 2024; spend on these ads $55,031–$66,395 (Google creative spend ranges, geo-allocated); 10 of them also linked to other candidates.

    Sep 24, 2026 · Official · Google Political Ads Transparency Report (bundle updated 2026-09-23 21:37 PT) · source

  • Google/YouTube ads — HMP (opposing)

    HMP — opposing this candidate (evidence: schedule e). 4 ads since Nov 2024; spend on these ads $90,000–$110,000 (Google creative spend ranges, geo-allocated); 4 of them also linked to other candidates.

    Sep 24, 2026 · Official · Google Political Ads Transparency Report (bundle updated 2026-09-23 21:37 PT) · source

Independent Expenditures

FEC independent expenditures on file: $903,200 supporting, $1,303,483 opposing, across 52 reports.

  • HMPOpposing · $1,303,483

    14 reports, newest Oct 6, 2026 · Federal Election Commission — electronic filing · newest filing

  • SAFETY & AFFORDABILITY PAC INC.Supporting · $312,500

    1 report, newest Oct 7, 2026 · Federal Election Commission — electronic filing · newest filing

  • Americans for Prosperity Action, Inc. (AFP Action) DBA CVA Action and DBA LIBRE ActionSupporting · $285,602

    9 reports, newest Oct 8, 2026 · Federal Election Commission — electronic filing · newest filing

  • Club for Growth ActionSupporting · $137,386

    3 reports, newest Oct 1, 2026 · Federal Election Commission — electronic filing · newest filing

  • NO GOING BACK PAC INC.Supporting · $116,984

    6 reports, newest Oct 6, 2026 · Federal Election Commission — electronic filing · newest filing

  • America PACSupporting · $29,540

    6 reports, newest Oct 9, 2026 · Federal Election Commission — electronic filing · newest filing

  • Club for Growth PACSupporting · $11,444

    8 reports, newest Sep 24, 2026 · Federal Election Commission — electronic filing · newest filing

  • NRA VICTORY FUND, INC.Supporting · $9,744

    5 reports, newest Oct 7, 2026 · Federal Election Commission — electronic filing · newest filing

Spend as each platform or filing reports it. Each line is a separate measure, and they are not added together.

In Their Words

What they have said, on the record

“We cannot go back to Kaptur and Joe Biden’s policies that led to 9% inflation and cost our country millions of jobs.”
Tariffs, jobs debate in close Ohio congressional raceSep 13, 2026 · Press · [your]NEWS · source
“Northwest Ohioans are tired of career politicians who care more about their titles, their power and their career than solving problems for the American people.”
Tariffs, jobs debate in close Ohio congressional raceSep 13, 2026 · Press · [your]NEWS · source
“Republicans must show up in November. We must press forward and win Let’s give President Trump the majorities in Congress he needs to keep our communities safe, keep our border secure, and keep America great.”
Derek Merrin Draws Contrast With Marcy Kaptur at RNCSep 10, 2026 · Press · The Daily Signal · source
“Despite that progress, Marcy Kaptur wants to go the wrong direction. She wants higher taxes, more regulations, more illegal immigrants, and America’s strength to be ceded to China and Mexico. Marcy Kaptur has been in Congress longer than I’ve been alive”
Derek Merrin Draws Contrast With Marcy Kaptur at RNCSep 10, 2026 · Press · The Daily Signal · source
“But for 43 years, my opponent Marcy Kaptur watched from her luxury Washington condo as domestic manufacturing floundered and jobs disappeared one by one, hollowing out our city and sending our wealth to foreign nations”
Derek Merrin Draws Contrast With Marcy Kaptur at RNCSep 10, 2026 · Press · The Daily Signal · source
“Marcy Kaptur has spent 43 years in Washington and she’s forgotten about Northwest Ohio Northwest Ohio deserves a representative that holds their values. They want someone that believes in secure borders, in low taxes, balanced budgets, that supports term limits, that represents them.”
Derek Merrin: ‘Northwest Ohio deserves a representative that holds their values’Sep 9, 2026 · Press · Ohio News · source
Show all 14 statements
“My time in the state legislature, I worked to lower taxes, cut regulation, increase freedom in Ohio, and increase prosperity for everyone in the state I had the opportunity to change over 20 laws in the state to make a tangible impact on Ohioans to make their lives better.”
Derek Merrin: ‘Northwest Ohio deserves a representative that holds their values’Sep 9, 2026 · Press · Ohio News · source
“After 40 years in Washington, Marcy Kaptur has failed, and prices keep rising I’m running for Congress because, unlike Kaptur, I’ll take on Big Pharma to lower drug prices.”
EXCLUSIVE: Derek Merrin airs first ad against Rep. Marcy KapturAug 26, 2026 · Press · Washington Reporter · source
“When my dad was dying from cancer, the treatment cost more than we could afford, so my mom took a second job to save his life That’s why I wrote the law that slashed the cost of life-saving medicine — to help families like mine.”
EXCLUSIVE: Derek Merrin airs first ad against Rep. Marcy KapturAug 26, 2026 · Press · Washington Reporter · source
“I’m honored by the support we received from Conservatives across Northwest Ohio. Northwest Ohio is ready for fresh new leadership. That’s why we are going to defeat Marcy Kaptur this November”
Republican Derek Merrin to Face Kaptur in NovemberMay 6, 2026 · Press · The Daily Signal · source
“I want to reduce their costs I want to improve their quality of life.”
Looking ahead to the rematch for congress in northwest OhioMay 6, 2026 · Press · Spectrum News 1 · source
“We came less than 1% away the last time; we’re going to finish the mission We have a lot of momentum, and I think more people are realizing that we have to solve problems in northwest Ohio.”
Looking ahead to the rematch for congress in northwest OhioMay 6, 2026 · Press · Spectrum News 1 · source
“The only thing unfair is that northwest Ohio has had to suffer under Marcy Kaptur for over 40 years It’s about her power, it’s about her prestige, it’s not about what is best for the citizens of Ohio. Our founding fathers never wanted someone to stay in office that long.”
Looking ahead to the rematch for congress in northwest OhioMay 6, 2026 · Press · Spectrum News 1 · source
“I’ll fight for the America First agenda, strengthen the border, cut taxes, protect our freedoms — and give Northwest Ohio the bold, conservative leadership it deserves”
Republican Derek Merrin launches bid for rematch against Rep. Marcy KapturJun 23, 2025 · Press · Associated Press · source

Interviews and Published Statements

  • Derek Merrin discusses jobs, wages on Labor Day in Toledo

    TV interview · 13 ABC (WTVG)

    Sep 7, 2026 · Press · 13 ABC (WTVG) · source

  • U.S. House candidate Derek Merrin speaks to reporters at Fulton County Fair

    Press availability · C-SPAN Excerpts from C-SPAN's caption transcript — speaker certain (single-candidate availability, first-person answers); timecodes are C-SPAN's segment starts: [00:24] “Our country is making progress. We still have some struggles, but we're on the right track. Last month, US manufacturing hit a four-year high of economic activity, which is great.” [01:11] “We need new leadership. We need conservative leadership. I'm going to provide that leadership and better days are ahead for Northwest Ohio.” [01:11] “I think we need term limits for members of Congress, Republicans and Democrats.”

    Sep 6, 2026 · Press · C-SPAN · source

  • Derek Merrin discusses crypto, insider trading

    TV interview · 13 ABC (WTVG)

    Sep 1, 2026 · Press · 13 ABC (WTVG) · source

In the News

Press coverage

Show all 11 articles

Headlines link to the original reporting, captured on the date shown.

Reach Them

Websites and accounts

  • Campaign Websitederekmerrin.comFull-page capture of https://www.derekmerrin.com/ at 2026-09-24T10:32:41Z. X/Facebook/Instagram follower counts require sign-in and were not collected.Sep 24, 2026 · Self-published · Campaign websiteSelf-published
  • Xx.com/DerekMerrinSelf-published
  • Facebookfacebook.com/derekmerrinforohioSelf-published

Polls

Public polls

  • Unnamed pollster (NRCC internal) for NRCCGeneral election · U.S. House

    Derek Merrin 47% · Marcy Kaptur 43% · Undecided 7%

    Field dates not stated · LV · NRCC

Released public polls of this race, as each pollster reported them. A poll is a snapshot, not a forecast.

The 2026 Field

Who else is running for Ohio 9th Congressional District

The Paper Trail

Filings, results and exhibits

  • U.S. Representative · OH-09

    Republican · Candidate · On the 2026 ballot

    Sep 19, 2026 · Official

File read Sep 25, 2026. Each item names its source. Record ID p_ybcc4ejqq.

GOTV Intel reports are sourced, cited research leads your campaign confirms against the primary record before use. They are never a consumer report and never for employment, credit, insurance, housing or licensure.