Candidate for U.S. Representative, Ohio District 9
Marcy Kaptur
DemocraticIncumbent
Marcy Kaptur is a Democrat from Toledo who was first elected to the House in 1982 and is the longest-serving woman in the history of Congress. She is the ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and a former urban planner and Carter administration domestic policy adviser. Her campaign emphasizes manufacturing jobs, lowering costs, protecting Social Security and Medicare, and the Great Lakes.
- Current or most recent role
- U.S. Representative, Ohio District 9
- Hometown
- Toledo
- Campaign website
- marcykaptur.com
Why they say you should vote for them
The candidate's own case to voters, summarized from their campaign and public statements.
- Says she is fighting for all Ohioans to have a fair playing field in seeking economic and health security.[2]
- Says her priorities are high-wage jobs, a 21st-century workforce, and protecting the Great Lakes.[2],[5]
- Says she has worked with both parties to secure investments in northwest Ohio communities.[2],[5]
- Says she has broken with her own party to oppose trade deals including NAFTA, CAFTA and China PNTR.[2]
Background
- U.S. Representative; Ranking Member, Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, U.S. House of Representatives · 1983–present[1],[5]
- Domestic policy adviser to President Jimmy Carter, The White House[1]
- City and regional planner (about 15 years), mainly in Toledo and Chicago[1]
Education
Where they stand
- Economy & JobsSupports tariffs intended to protect Ohio manufacturers and ending tax advantages for companies that move jobs overseas; has said she would strip the president of tariff authorities and opposes the administration's tariff approach.[3],[4],[6]
- TaxesOpposed the 2025 reconciliation law (H.R. 1); supports eliminating tax cuts for corporations and top earners.[6],[7]
- ImmigrationSupports "secure borders and legal immigration"; has voted for more Border Patrol agents and monitoring technology and backed the 2024 bipartisan Senate border plan.[3],[4]
- AbortionSays health decisions should be between a woman and her doctor; opposes a national abortion ban, particularly one without exceptions for rape, incest or the life of the mother.[3],[4]
- Social Security & MedicareOpposes cuts to or privatization of Social Security and Medicare.[4]
- Energy & EnvironmentSupports an "all of the above" energy policy including solar, wind, geothermal and biofuels, and funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.[3]
Voting record
A selection of notable recorded votes. Not a complete record.
| Measure | Vote | Date |
|---|---|---|
| H.R. 1 – One Big Beautiful Bill Act (final passage) Budget reconciliation law extending 2017 individual tax cuts, adding new tax deductions, changing Medicaid and SNAP rules and funding, and increasing border and defense spending; passed 218–214. (U.S. House) | No[8] | Jul 3, 2025 |
| H.R. 1968 – Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 Funded the federal government through Sept. 30, 2025 at roughly prior-year levels; passed 217–213. (U.S. House) | No[9] | Mar 11, 2025 |
| H.R. 5371 – Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 (Senate amendment) Ended the fall 2025 government shutdown with stopgap funding for most agencies and full-year funding for several appropriations bills; passed 222–209. (U.S. House) | No[10] | Nov 12, 2025 |
| S. 5 – Laken Riley Act Requires federal immigration detention of noncitizens charged with or arrested for theft-related and certain other crimes; passed 263–156. (U.S. House) | Yes[11] | Jan 22, 2025 |
| S. 1071 – National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 Annual defense policy and programs authorization for fiscal year 2026; passed 312–112. (U.S. House) | Yes[12] | Dec 10, 2025 |
| H.R. 7148 – Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 Full-year fiscal 2026 funding for Defense, Labor-HHS-Education, Transportation-HUD and other agencies with short-term DHS funding, ending a four-day partial shutdown; passed 217–214. (U.S. House) | Yes[13] | Feb 3, 2026 |
In their words
Sources
- About | Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, Office of Rep. Marcy Kaptur (kaptur.house.gov)
- Marcy Kaptur for Congress (campaign website), Kaptur for Congress
- Marcy's Priorities, Kaptur for Congress
- Kaptur vs. Merrin: What voters should know about Ohio's 9th Congressional District race, WTOL 11 (via Yahoo News), September 29, 2026
- Redistricting redraws Ohio's 9th District ahead of 2026 Kaptur-Merrin rematch, Ballotpedia News, August 6, 2026
- Tariffs, jobs debate in close Ohio congressional race, The Center Square (via Brushwood Media Network), September 13, 2026
- Taxes, gas prices key in Ohio congressional race, The Center Square (via Brushwood Media Network), October 3, 2026
- Roll Call 190 – H.R. 1, On Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, July 3, 2025
- Roll Call 70 – H.R. 1968, On Passage, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, March 11, 2025
- Roll Call 285 – H.R. 5371, On Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, November 12, 2025
- Roll Call 23 – S. 5, On Passage, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, January 22, 2025
- Roll Call 320 – S. 1071, On Passage, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, December 10, 2025
- Roll Call 53 – H.R. 7148, On Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendments, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, February 3, 2026
Photo: Official portrait, U.S. House of Representatives (Public domain (U.S. government work)).
Last reviewed October 9, 2026. Spot an error or something missing? Report a correction.
Also running for U.S. Representative, Ohio District 9
- Matthew Althaus (Libertarian)
- Derek Merrin (Republican)