Vulnerable Democrat Holds Onto House Seat, Keeping GOP Majority Slim

Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) will maintain control of a U.S.

House of Representatives seat, according to results certified on Nov. 20. Kaptur, 78, was widely viewed as a vulnerable candidate and her seat, held since 1983, was targeted by Republicans who were keen to flip an extra seat.



Kaptur has historically easily won reelection, but her margin of victory has narrowed in recent years. In 2022, she won with 55 percent of the vote. The margin of 0.

7 percent in the 2024 race falls outside the 0.5 percent required for an automatic recount, although Merrin could still request a recount. The Kaptur and Merrin campaigns did not respond to a request for comment.

Merrin, 38, had campaigned on a change in priorities, including focusing on helping secure the U.S.–Mexico border and supporting term limits for members of Congress.

The National Republican Congressional Committee predicted after Merrin emerged from a competitive primary that he would beat the incumbent. Kaptur described herself as a voice for Ohioans on key issues such as jobs and protecting the Great Lakes. Kaptur’s victory keeps Republicans at 218 seats in the House in the next Congress, which will be sworn in on Jan.

3, 2025. Republicans will have a majority of just one if they don’t win any more seats. Democrats currently have 213 seats in the House starting in January.

The Alaska Division of Elections is still processing ballots in the race for Alaska’s at-large House seat. Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) was challenged by Nicholas Begich, a Republican and the grandson of former Sen.

Mark Begich (D-Alaska). California officials are still counting votes in races pitting Rep. John Duarte (R-Calif.

) against former Democrat state Assemblyman Adam Gary and Rep. Michelle Steel (R-Calif.) against lawyer and Democrat Derek Tran.

A contest between Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) and former Democrat state Rep. Christina Bohannan has also not yet been called, with the candidates divided by just 801 votes with almost all ballots counted.

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