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Republican

Derek Merrin

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Republican

Derek Merrin

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OH-09 Republican nominee?

$154.6K

MAY 12, 2026

Primary Election

Party selects its nominee.

Overview

Current roleFormer State Representative

PartyRepublican

Political ideologyConservative Republican

Age40 years old (Jan 4, 1986)

GenderMale

LocationOhio

BackgroundPolitician

EducationOwens Community College (attended)

Notable personal detailsDerek Scott Merrin is an American politician and real estate investor who served in the Ohio House of Representatives from 2016 to 2025, representing districts in Lucas County. He chaired the Ohio House Ways and Means Committee and previously chaired the House Health Committee. Merrin also served in local government as a Waterville City Council member and as mayor of Waterville (2008–2011). He is a Republican candidate for the U.S. House in Ohio’s 9th Congressional District.

SourcesShow

fec.gov ohiohouse.gov en.wikipedia.org derekmerrin.com linkedin.com thecandidate.com guides.vote polivion.com cbsnews.com statenews.org octagonai.co dccc.org ohiocapitaljournal.com ohiomfg.com static1.squarespace.com docquery.fec.gov atr.org repbio.org ballotready.org foxnews.com legiscan.com theguardian.com bmj.com buckeyefirearms.org clubforgrowth.org apnews.com nfib.com house.ohio.gov x.com facebook.com toledoblade.com thehill.com nytimes.com rollcall.com wtol.com wqln.org wkyc.com ballotpedia.org kuow.org nprillinois.org courthousenews.com youtube.com votesmart.org justfacts.votesmart.org legislation.ballotpedia.org data.ballotpedia.org cdn.ballotpedia.org house.gov clerk.house.gov durbin.senate.gov

Positions

LiberalConservative

Economy & Taxes

Supports lower taxes, simplifying the tax code, tax transparency, and opposes new/increased income taxes; has sponsored and passed legislation reducing or repealing specific taxes and signed a pledge to oppose income tax hikes.

Healthcare

Supports reducing healthcare costs through price transparency and fewer regulations, and has sponsored targeted state-level measures to improve access to specific treatments (for example, epinephrine access) and remove certain taxes on medical-related goods. Emphasizes market-oriented reforms and regulatory relief rather than expanding large public insurance programs.

Immigration & Border

The candidate emphasizes securing the southern border and supports strong enforcement measures, including deporting unauthorized immigrants, finishing construction of a border wall, and using the military to assist border security.

Abortion & Reproductive Rights

Derek Merrin has sponsored and co-sponsored legislation in the Ohio House that would impose very restrictive limits on abortion, including co-sponsoring a 2019 bill that defined ‘aggravated abortion murder’ and co-leading efforts to advance a six-week ‘heartbeat’ ban. He has been publicly identified as a leading supporter of near-total abortion restrictions in Ohio.

Climate & Energy

Public materials and news coverage show Derek Merrin as a conservative lawmaker focused on tax transparency, lower taxes, and deregulatory policies, but they do not present a clear, specific set of climate or energy policies such as support for aggressive emissions targets or for a fossil-fuel expansion. Available sources describe a 2017 bill on fuel-tax transparency and general conservative priorities on his campaign site and in reporting, without definitive statements for or against major climate policies.

Public Safety & Guns

The candidate supports the constitutional right to carry and has emphasized standing with law enforcement and ensuring they have resources. He has received endorsements from pro-gun and police organizations, indicating a pro-Second Amendment, law-and-order orientation while not advocating expanded gun restrictions in the cited materials.

News

AINews Summary

Last updatedJul 4, 2026

Derek Merrin won the Republican primary in Ohio’s 9th Congressional District, making him the GOP nominee for a November rematch with Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur. The race is being watched closely because the district has been redrawn to lean more Republican and is considered highly competitive. Merrin has also said he is gaining momentum, pointing to internal polling that he says shows him ahead by 4 points.

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Articles

NNewsmax1 month ago