EXCLUSIVE — Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) will endorse state Rep. Derek Merrin for a competitive House race in Ohio, giving the local lawmaker’s campaign a boost among a crowded field of Republican candidates in the primary.
Johnson’s endorsement gives Merrin support from the House’s top Republican as the party seeks to flip Ohio’s 9th Congressional District, which is currently held by Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH). Johnson cited Merrin’s voting record on key issues such as the economy and public safety and his lengthy experience in local politics as reasons for giving Merrin his endorsement.
“Derek Merrin has my full endorsement for his campaign in Ohio’s 9th Congressional District,” Johnson said in a statement first obtained by the Washington Examiner. “Derek is a proven conservative and demonstrated leader with a backbone who will prioritize economic growth, safer communities, and America First policies. He has what it takes to turn OH-09 red and grow our Republican majority in Congress.”
The fight for the 9th District is expected to be one of the more competitive races of the 2024 cycle, with Republicans eyeing it as one of their best chances to flip a seat and bolster their slim majority in the lower chamber. The National Republican Congressional Committee listed the seat as one of its top targets this year.
“I am honored to receive the endorsement from Speaker Johnson who is a strong man of faith standing in the gap holding back Biden, the Democrat Senate, and Marcy Kaptur from having full control to push America further to fiscal insolvency and a woke society,” Merrin said in a statement. “I have a proven record of fighting against the established political class in Ohio, and I look forward to bringing that fight to Congress with a strong Republican majority where we will uphold the Constitution, balance the budget, secure our borders, protect the U.S. dollar from further devaluation, and enact Congressional term limits.”
But before Merrin can look ahead to the November election, he must first face a crowded field of primary challengers seeking to clinch the GOP nomination. Four Republican candidates will compete during the GOP primary in March, including Merrin, former state Rep. Craig Riedel, J.R. Majewski, and Steve Lankenau.
Merrin is likely to have an advantage after receiving Johnson’s coveted endorsement, especially giving him a leg up on Riedel, who has recently been jolted out of the House GOP leadership’s favor.
House GOP Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) initially endorsed Riedel for the seat but later rescinded her support for the top Republican recruit after he was caught on tape criticizing former President Donald Trump as arrogant. Stefanik has not yet thrown her support behind another candidate.
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All 435 seats are up for grabs in 2024 as Republicans seek to hold their slim majority in the lower chamber. Of these, 42 are considered competitive, with most of those held by Democrats compared to Republicans, giving the GOP a slight advantage as it prepares for the next election cycle.
However, of the 42 competitive seats, 18 are held by Republicans in districts that voted for President Joe Biden in 2020, compared to just five Democrats who must defend their seats in districts carried by Trump. That means there are just enough vulnerable GOP-held seats to keep things competitive heading into the next election cycle.
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January 25, 2024 at 11:09PM
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Speaker Johnson backs state lawmaker in crowded GOP primary for Ohio House seat - Washington Examiner
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