




Republican candidate for U.S. House in Ohio
OH-09 Republican nominee?
Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Current prediction-market probability for the candidate, updated as market prices change.
0.1%chance to win
Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.
Current roleGovernment official
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyTrump-aligned Republican
Age29 years old (Feb 9, 1997)
GenderFemale
LocationOhio
BackgroundGovernment official
EducationThe Ohio State University (graduate; degree not verified)
Notable personal detailsMadison Dean Sheahan is an American government official and Republican political operative from Curtice, Ohio. She served as deputy director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) beginning in March 2025 and previously served as executive director of the South Dakota Republican Party and as political director for then-South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem. She ran in the 2026 Republican primary for Ohio's 9th Congressional District.
Supports robust immigration enforcement and strengthened border security, emphasizing expanded interior enforcement and large-scale deportations; frames her record around hiring more enforcement officers and executing aggressive removals. Positions prioritize enforcement-first measures over expanded legal pathways or protections for asylum seekers.
The candidate served as Louisiana’s Secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries under Gov. Jeff Landry and was involved in state actions that supported expanding oil, gas, and related energy infrastructure. Reporting links her appointment and department actions to a state administration prioritizing fossil-fuel development over aggressive climate regulations and shows the department named in at least one legal challenge over approval of a CO2 pipeline project.
Madison Sheahan lost the Republican primary in Ohio's 9th Congressional District to Derek Merrin. The result means Merrin will be the GOP nominee to face Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur in the general election. Reports also suggest the outcome may reflect some Republican voter concern about ICE and immigration enforcement.
Recent polling results and the candidate's current average in the race.




Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Campaign finance totals from the latest available reporting period.
2026
LatestCycle 2026
Source: FEC