Ohio GOP Faces Concerns Over Former ICE Deputy's Primary Impact in 9th District

Sat, 02 May 2026 21:58:00 +0200

Ohio Republicans are expressing concern that Madison Sheahan, former Deputy Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the Trump administration, could complicate their chances of flipping the competitive 9th Congressional District from Democrat Marcy Kaptur. The district, redrawn last year to favor Republicans, was narrowly won by Kaptur in 2024. Sheahan’s primary campaign highlights her close association with Trump and his aggressive immigration policies, including controversial ICE operations that resulted in violent confrontations and two U.S. citizen deaths in Minneapolis. While her record appeals to Trump-aligned primary voters, GOP strategists fear it could be a liability in the general election against Kaptur. Sheahan faces multiple Republican challengers in the primary, including former state representatives Derek Merrin and Josh Williams, and Air Force veteran Alea Nadeem, who have criticized her ICE tenure. Her campaign has been notable for early TV ads empha