U.S. House, Ohio 9th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in Ohio's 9th Congressional District?
Derek Merrin has the strongest record in Ohio's 9th Congressional District. Derek Merrin scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Marcy Kaptur at 57, as of October 9, 2026. Derek Merrin's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Marcy Kaptur's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Kathy McKinstry (1 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic · incumbent
Marcy Kaptur
57 / 100
Public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 50
Write-in
Kathy McKinstry
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 1 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- NR
- Performance
- NR
Republican
Strongest record
Derek Merrin
63 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Marcy Kaptur
- Mark against2023-05-15
Reported an October 2022 sale of $1,280 in inherited stock on May 15, 2023, past the 45-day STOCK Act deadline; her office called it an oversight and said she paid a $200 fee.
Sources: House Clerk periodic transaction report, Filing ID 20022886, 13abc, July 5, 2023, WCPO
- Mark against2021-02-16
The FEC assessed Kaptur for Congress a $1,230 administrative fine over its 2020 pre-primary report, paid in full.
Source: FEC Administrative Fine #3834
- Mark against2015-01-09
The FEC assessed Kaptur for Congress a $6,460 administrative fine over 2014 48-hour contribution notices, paid in full.
Source: FEC Administrative Fine #2842
- On the record2026-09
In September 2026 the Lucas County Democratic Party and Lucas County Stonewall Democrats called on her to pull a campaign ad saying she voted with Republicans on transgender issues in schools.
Sources: 13abc, Sept. 23, 2026, WOSU, Sept. 28, 2026
- Credit2026
Recognized as the longest-serving woman in congressional history, first elected in 1982.
Source: Roll Call, May 6, 2026
- Credit2025-01
Voted Yea on the Laken Riley Act in January 2025 when Democratic Leader Jeffries voted Nay.
Source: House Clerk Roll Call 6, 2025
- Credit2022-12-29
Sponsored the fiscal 2023 Energy and Water Development appropriations bill (H.R. 8255), enacted in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, signed Dec. 29, 2022.
Kathy McKinstry
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Derek Merrin
- On the record2024-10-06
Owned five Toledo rental properties, three not yet certified lead-safe in October 2024 with city deadlines from 2024 to 2026; his campaign said every property then required to be certified was in compliance.
Source: Columbus Dispatch, Oct. 6, 2024
- On the record2023-01-03
Won the Ohio House Republican caucus nomination for speaker in late 2022, then lost the Jan. 3, 2023 floor vote to Republican Jason Stephens, who had bipartisan support.
Source: Columbus Dispatch, Jan. 3, 2023
- On the record2023-10 to 2024-09
Sued Speaker Jason Stephens with two colleagues in October 2023 over control of the House Republican campaign account; a judge ruled for them in June 2024; an appeals court dismissed the suit in September 2024.
Sources: 13abc (AP), June 23, 2024, WYSU (Statehouse News Bureau), Sept. 6, 2024
- Credit2009 to 2024
Elected to the Waterville City Council and as mayor before serving eight years in the Ohio House.
Source: Ballotpedia, Derek Merrin
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Marcy Kaptur. Reported an Oct. 21, 2022 stock sale on May 15, 2023, past the 45-day deadline, and paid a $200 late fee per her office; reported by 13abc and WCPO (E16). FEC fines are counted under Management (E20).
Sources: House Clerk periodic transaction report, Filing ID 20022886, 13abc, July 5, 2023, WCPO
Kathy McKinstry. House candidate financial disclosure filed April 13, 2026; FEC committee registered. No official finding found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10075459, FEC candidate page
Derek Merrin. House candidate financial disclosure for 2026 filed Aug. 13, 2026 after an extension, and campaign reports on file with the FEC. No FEC administrative fine or official finding found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10078028, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Marcy Kaptur. Voted Yea on the Laken Riley Act (2025), the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 and the 2026 farm bill when Democratic Leader Jeffries voted Nay.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 6, 2025, House Clerk Roll Call 53, 2026, House Clerk Roll Call 154, 2026
Kathy McKinstry. No public record found.
Derek Merrin. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Marcy Kaptur. Held a public town hall on trade with Rep. Debbie Dingell at the UAW Region 2B office in Toledo in May 2026. No 2026 general election debate record found.
Kathy McKinstry. No public record found.
Derek Merrin. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Marcy Kaptur. In the U.S. House since 1983 with no censure, reprimand or House Ethics Committee finding found.
Sources: Roll Call, May 6, 2026, House Committee on Ethics site search for Kaptur
Kathy McKinstry. No public record found.
Derek Merrin. Served as Waterville council member and mayor and eight years in the Ohio House. No censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Marcy Kaptur. Voted Nay on the January 2021 objections to Arizona's and Pennsylvania's electors and on the January 2005 objection to Ohio's electors; not among the 2017 objectors. No misuse-of-office finding found.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, Jan. 6, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, Jan. 7, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 7, Jan. 6, 2005
Kathy McKinstry. No public record found.
Derek Merrin. Held sworn local and state office as Waterville mayor and an Ohio state representative through 2024. No misuse-of-office finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Derek Merrin
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Marcy Kaptur. In the U.S. House since January 1983, seeking a 23rd term.
Sources: GovTrack, Marcy Kaptur, Roll Call, May 6, 2026
Kathy McKinstry. No public record found.
Derek Merrin. Ohio state representative from 2016 to 2024 (four terms), earlier Waterville council member and mayor and an Ohio Auditor's office employee.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Marcy Kaptur. Ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development; publishes legislative priority pages.
Sources: GovTrack, committee membership, Office site, home page
Kathy McKinstry. No public record found.
Derek Merrin. Chaired the Ohio House Ways and Means Committee in 2021 to 2022 and the Health Committee in 2019 to 2020; publishes campaign priorities in general terms.
Source: Ballotpedia, Derek Merrin
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Marcy Kaptur. Offers an email newsletter and publishes priority pages. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Kathy McKinstry. No public record found.
Derek Merrin. Completed Ballotpedia's survey in 2024 and publishes a campaign site; has not completed the 2026 survey.
Source: Ballotpedia, Derek Merrin
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Marcy Kaptur. A Toledo native who lives in her childhood home, per her campaign. FEC by-state totals for 2025 to 2026 show about 22 percent of itemized individual contributions from Ohio.
Sources: Campaign site, home page, FEC contribution totals by state
Kathy McKinstry. No public record found.
Derek Merrin. Lives in Monclova Township in Lucas County and served Waterville as council member and mayor. FEC by-state totals show about 40 percent of itemized individual contributions from Ohio.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Derek Merrin, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Marcy Kaptur. The FEC assessed her committee a $1,230 administrative fine in 2021 over its 2020 pre-primary report, paid in full; an earlier $6,460 fine closed in 2015.
Sources: FEC Administrative Fine #3834, FEC Administrative Fine #2842
Kathy McKinstry. No public record found.
Derek Merrin. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Marcy Kaptur. Legislative Effectiveness Score of 0.088 in the 118th Congress against a benchmark of 0.606, below expectations. Raised to 2 under E14: her fiscal 2023 Energy and Water appropriations bill was enacted in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, H.R. 8255 (117th Congress), GovTrack, enacted legislation
Kathy McKinstry. No public record found.
Derek Merrin. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Marcy Kaptur. Missed 1,237 of 25,610 roll call votes, 4.8 percent, from January 1983 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Kathy McKinstry. No public record found.
Derek Merrin. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Marcy Kaptur. District office in Toledo and help with federal agencies, foreclosure, small business and home energy assistance listed on the office site. No published casework totals found.
Source: Office site, home page
Kathy McKinstry. No public record found.
Derek Merrin. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Marcy Kaptur. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of -0.32348 in the latest posted House scores (118th Congress, 2023), ranked 192 of 436.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores
Kathy McKinstry. No public record found.
Derek Merrin. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Marcy Kaptur. No public record found.
Kathy McKinstry. No public record found.
Derek Merrin. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Ohio's 9th Congressional District?
Derek Merrin has the strongest record in Ohio's 9th Congressional District. Derek Merrin scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Marcy Kaptur at 57, as of October 9, 2026. Derek Merrin's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Marcy Kaptur's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Kathy McKinstry (1 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Ohio's 9th Congressional District in 2026?
Marcy Kaptur (Democratic, incumbent), Kathy McKinstry (Write-in), Derek Merrin (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Marcy Kaptur a good candidate for Congress?
Marcy Kaptur scores 57 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 50 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Kathy McKinstry a good candidate for Congress?
Kathy McKinstry has public evidence on 1 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Derek Merrin a good candidate for Congress?
Derek Merrin scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Ohio race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the Ohio 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.