Madison Sheahan, a former deputy director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) who resigned in January to launch a congressional campaign, failed to secure the Republican nomination in Ohio's 9th District on Tuesday. The 29-year-old placed third in a crowded primary field, capturing roughly 20 percent of the vote, according to Decision Desk HQ.
Sheahan had positioned herself as a staunch ally of President Trump, touting her role in executing his immigration enforcement agenda. “At ICE, I returned security to our communities. I’m ready to take that same mindset to Congress,” she said in a campaign launch video. Her bid came amid a controversial immigration sweep in Minnesota that triggered widespread protests and resulted in the deaths of two U.S. citizens at the hands of federal agents.
Sheahan joined ICE in March 2025 after serving as secretary of Louisiana’s Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and later working for Kristi Noem, then governor of South Dakota and now former Department of Homeland Security secretary. Noem, a key ally, was ousted from DHS by Trump earlier this year, complicating Sheahan’s campaign narrative.
Political analysts had predicted that economic concerns—particularly manufacturing jobs and tariffs—along with name recognition would outweigh immigration in voters’ minds. Trump did not endorse any candidate in the primary, leaving the field to battle over local issues and party loyalty.
The primary outcome sets up a November rematch between incumbent Rep. Marcy Kaptur, a Democrat and the longest-serving woman in Congress, and former state Rep. Derek Merrin. Kaptur narrowly defeated Merrin in 2024, but mid-decade redistricting has shifted the district several points toward Republicans, making it a “toss-up” according to the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.
Kaptur holds a significant financial advantage heading into the general election, with nearly $3.1 million in cash on hand compared to Merrin’s roughly $188,000, per Federal Election Commission filings. The race is expected to be one of the most competitive in the country, drawing national attention as both parties vie for control of the House.
For context, similar dynamics are playing out in other Ohio races. In the state’s Senate primary, a tight contest between Bernie Moreno and Matt Dolan is setting up a fall toss-up against incumbent Sherrod Brown. Meanwhile, Vivek Ramaswamy is leading the GOP primary for Ohio’s 12th Congressional District, with the general election expected to be closely watched.
