Polling Average
40%30%20%10%0%
10%
33%
14%
OH-09 Republican nominee?
$154.6K
MAY 12, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleGovernment official
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyTrump-aligned Republican
Age29 years old (Feb 9, 1997)
GenderFemale
Show moreShow less
LocationOhio
BackgroundGovernment official
EducationThe Ohio State University (B.A., 2019; public affairs)
Notable personal detailsMadison Dean Sheahan is a Republican political operative and former government official who ran for U.S. House in Ohio’s 9th Congressional District in the 2026 cycle. She served as Deputy Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from March 2025 to January 2026 and previously was secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Sheahan has also worked in Republican politics, including as political director to South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and as executive director of the South Dakota Republican Party.
SourcesShowHide
fec.goven.wikipedia.orgsheahanforohio.comaxios.comwashingtonpost.comthecandidate.com13abc.comthericotv.combloomberg.comapnews.comtime.compolymarket.comthedailybeast.comdccc.orgnotus.orgoutcomecast.comdocquery.fec.govreddit.comfoxnews.comtheguardian.comyahoo.comwwno.orgwrganews.comnewsmax.comhstoday.usbizpacreview.comnypost.comvoz.ustennesseestar.combiographywallah.comcelebswiki.infocongress.govcampaignforaction.orglinkedin.comjustfacts.votesmart.orgbusiness.linkedin.comfacebook.comstatic.votesmart.orglearning.linkedin.comabcnews.go.comnoticias.foxnews.comcbsnews.comvotesmart.orgballotready.orgvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.orghistory.house.govfrontpage.ballotpedia.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orggovinfo.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Immigration & Border
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.
Climate & Energy
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.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJun 12, 2026
Madison Sheahan lost the Republican primary in Ohio's 9th Congressional District to Derek Merrin. The result ends her bid for the GOP nomination and sets Merrin up to face Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur in the general election. Some reporting suggested the outcome may also reflect Republican voter concerns about ICE and immigration enforcement.
fec.gov+49
Articles
TDThe Daily Beast1 month ago
ICE Barbie’s Enforcer Hit With Stunning Election Defeat
Negative
HHuffPost1 month ago
Former ICE Official Loses Republican Primary In Ohio
Negative
WCWDIV ClickOnDetroit1 month ago
AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Ohio's state primaries
Neutral
TAThe Associated Press1 month ago
What to expect in Ohio's state primaries
Neutral
Polls
OH-09 Republican nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Total raisedCash on hand
$157.8K
$118.4K
$78.9K
$39.5K
$0
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2026
$157.8K
$67.5K
$90.3K
$5.6K
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements