All the action is happening on the Republican side in Ohio’s March 19 primary contests, as Republicans pick nominees to challenge vulnerable Democratic Reps. Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) and Emilia Sykes (OH-13) and to succeed retiring GOP Rep. Brad Wenstrup (OH-02) and former GOP Rep. Bill Johnson (OH-06).
The GOP averted a repeat disaster last Friday when scandal-ridden Republican candidate J.R. Majewski bowed to pressure from his own party to drop out of the primary for the Toledo-based 9th District. Last cycle, Majewski lost to Kaptur by 13 points in a district Trump had won by 3 points in 2020. Though Kaptur’s long history in the district makes her a formidable opponent, Republicans are now in a much better position to flip this seat, which is why we’re moving this race from Lean Democrat to Toss Up.
In contrast, the GOP primary in the Akron-based 13th District has been a relatively sleepy affair. But the general election between the Republican nominee and Sykes is expected to be quite competitive, as this is one of the most evenly-divided districts in the country.
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