Campaign Announcement
Madison Sheahan, formerly the Deputy Director of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), resigned her position on Thursday to launch a campaign for Congress in Ohio.
Sheahan is running in a crowded Republican primary for Ohio's 9th District, a seat made more favorable to the GOP following recent redistricting.
In her campaign announcement video, Sheahan highlighted her work at ICE and criticized incumbent Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur.
She stated, "In less than one year at ICE, I’ve stopped more illegal immigration than Marcy Kaptur has in her 43 years in Washington." She also referenced President Donald Trump, saying, "Ohio neighborhoods are safer, thanks to President [Donald] Trump and ICE."
Sheahan connected her campaign to the Trump administration, noting her role in the initiative to hire thousands of new ICE agents.
Primary Landscape
Sheahan's entry brings the number of Republicans running in the district's primary, scheduled for May 5, to more than half a dozen.
The Republican field includes state Rep. Josh Williams and Derek Merrin, a former state lawmaker who was the GOP nominee against Kaptur in 2022.
In 2022, Kaptur defeated Merrin in the general election by less than a percentage point.
District Context
Ohio's 9th District has been a battleground and a target for Republicans in previous election cycles.
Following a wave of partisan redistricting in Ohio last year, the district's boundaries were redrawn to enhance GOP prospects.
Under the former district lines, President Trump won Kaptur's district by 7 percentage points in 2020. Under the new district lines, Trump would have won the seat by 11 percentage points.
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates this year's midterm election race as a "Toss Up."
Party Dynamics
A spokesperson for Rep. Kaptur's campaign stated that the congresswoman is focused on delivering results for her constituents, including lowering costs, protecting access to affordable healthcare, and bringing investments to Northwest Ohio.
House Republicans are entering the election year with a slim majority, compounded by numerous retirements across both parties.
Former President Trump has expressed concerns that the GOP could lose control of the House. Trump endorsed Merrin ahead of the 2022 GOP primary in this district but has not yet endorsed a candidate for this year's primary election.