The person behind the name
Derek Merrin’s public career runs from a Toledo suburb’s city hall to the Ohio House and two campaigns for the same seat in Congress.
Merrin is a former Ohio state representative from Lucas County and a former mayor of Waterville. He won the May 5, 2026 Republican primary in Ohio’s 9th Congressional District. The Wood County and Erie County boards of elections list him as the Republican candidate for representative to Congress in the November 3 general election, opposite Democratic incumbent Marcy Kaptur. [1][2][3][5][6]
Education and professional preparation
His Ohio House biography reports a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toledo and a Master of Public Administration degree from Bowling Green State University. It describes him as a real estate investor. Ohio Capital Journal reported in January 2023 that he worked in the office of then-auditor Dave Yost before joining the legislature, and that he owns rental properties. [3][7]
From Waterville to Columbus
The biography says he joined Waterville City Council at 19, was elected mayor at 21 and served as mayor from 2008 to 2011. He was appointed to the Ohio House in 2016 and served four terms. The House page for his 2021 property-tax bill lists him as the member for District 47; his fourth-term biography lists the 42nd District, in southwestern Lucas County. [3][4][8]
He chaired the House Health Committee and, in the 134th General Assembly, the House Ways and Means Committee. House Republicans voted in November 2022 for him to be speaker, but in January 2023 the full House elected Jason Stephens, 54–43. [3][9]
Two campaigns for Congress
As the Republican nominee in 2024, Merrin lost to Kaptur, 181,098 votes to 178,716. His current statement of candidacy names Derek Merrin for Congress as his principal campaign committee. In the May 5, 2026 primary he received 44.1% of the vote in a five-candidate field, according to unofficial Associated Press results reported by Ohio Capital Journal. [2][10][11][12]
A note on the November field. Two county election boards list three candidates for the 9th District: Kaptur, Merrin and a write-in candidate, Kathy McKinstry. Wood County’s list is marked as of August 26, 2026. Ballotpedia’s August 6 report also named a Libertarian, Matthew Althaus. He does not appear on either county list, although both lists carry Libertarian candidates for other offices. This profile follows the election boards. [1][5][13]
A note on dates of service. Ohio Capital Journal’s August 2026 report dates Merrin’s House service from 2016 to 2024. Its March and May 2026 reports and Courthouse News Service give 2016 to 2025, and his campaign says he served for eight years. This profile uses 2016–2024, following the most recent report. [2][4][6][10][14]
A note on campaign-finance figures. Total receipts are not the same as contributions. The committee’s July quarterly report, covering April 16 through June 30, 2026, shows cycle-to-date total receipts of $1,273,037.81. Its cycle-to-date lines include $568,714.26 in contributions, $392,081.85 in transfers from other authorized committees and $310,000.00 in loans made or guaranteed by the candidate. It reports $511,443.15 in cash on hand at the close and $88,351.80 in debts owed by the committee. These are the committee’s own figures, not audited totals. [15]
A note on the 2024 margin. Kaptur won in 2024 with 48.3% to Merrin’s 47.6%; a Libertarian, Tom Pruss, received 4.1%. Courthouse News put the margin at 2,382 votes. In that race his campaign announced endorsements from Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson. The 2026 contest is being held under a congressional map passed in October 2025. Ballotpedia reported that Trump received 54.8% in 2024 within the new district’s lines, and that forecasters in August 2026 rated the race Lean Democratic, Toss-up or Tilt Republican. A result under the old lines is not a like-for-like guide to the new district, and an endorsement is not an evaluation of a legislative record. [2][11][13][14][26]
Life & public service
The documented milestones run from local office in Waterville to the legislature and two congressional campaigns.
Mayor of Waterville
His Ohio House biography says he joined Waterville City Council at 19 and was elected mayor at 21. He served as mayor from 2008 to 2011. [3]
The speakership contest
House Republicans voted in November 2022 for Merrin to be speaker. In January 2023 the full House elected Jason Stephens, 54–43, with 22 Republicans backing him. [9]
Lawsuit over the caucus campaign fund
Ohio Capital Journal reported on October 11 that Merrin, two other representatives and the Ohio House Republican Alliance had sued Speaker Stephens and others in Franklin County over control of the House Republican campaign fund. A judge denied a temporary restraining order in February 2024. [24][25]
Accomplishments, in the record
Legislation and official documents establish the following work. Outcomes are described at the level supported by those records, with shared credit where other officials were principal authors.
The Down syndrome abortion law
The legislature lists Sarah LaTourette and Merrin as primary sponsors of HB 214 of the 132nd General Assembly, with 49 cosponsors. Its long title says it prohibits performing or inducing an abortion on a woman “who is seeking the abortion because an unborn child has or may have Down Syndrome.” The House passed it on November 1, 2017 and the Senate on December 13. The governor signed it on December 22, 2017, with an effective date of March 23, 2018. [17][28]
A federal district court preliminarily enjoined the law. On April 13, 2021 the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit reversed that injunction in Preterm-Cleveland v. McCloud, writing that “the plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate a likelihood of success on that claim.” The ruling concerned a preliminary injunction; this profile did not review later proceedings. [29]
A House-passed eyewear tax exemption
Merrin was primary sponsor of HB 116, a bill to exempt prescription eyeglasses, contact lenses and other optical aids from sales and use tax beginning July 2019. The legislature’s page lists 66 cosponsors. [30]
The House passed the bill on September 20, 2017. The Senate referred it to its Ways and Means Committee on October 25, 2017, and the status page records no later action. The fuller record below returns to this point. [16]
Moving Senate Bill 23 as Health chair
Ohio Capital Journal reported that in 2019, “as chair of the House Health committee, Merrin shepherded the six-week abortion ban through the House.” The House roll-call page for SB 23 records a committee vote of 11–7 on April 9, 2019 and House passage, 56–40, on April 10, with Merrin among the yeas both times. SB 23 was a Senate bill; the records reviewed show Merrin as committee chair and a yea vote, not as its author. [7][18]
Limits on property-tax complaints
Merrin was primary sponsor of HB 126 of the 134th General Assembly, whose long title says it modifies “the law governing property tax complaints.” The House passed it on April 15, 2021 and the Senate on December 15, 2021. After the House refused to concur in Senate amendments, Merrin served as a House conference manager with Representatives Stephens and Liston, and the House agreed to the conference report on April 6, 2022. The governor signed the bill on April 20, 2022, effective July 21, 2022. [8][22]
His campaign says the law “limits the power of local governments to challenge property values to increase property taxes on property owners.” That description is the campaign’s. The legislative pages record procedure, not effects on taxpayers, schools or local governments. [6][22]
Property-tax levy wording on ballots
Merrin was primary sponsor of HB 140, titled the Ballot Uniformity and Transparency Act. Its long title says it modifies “the form of election notices and ballot language for property tax levies.” [31]
The House passed it on April 22, 2021 and the Senate on June 1, 2022. The governor signed it on June 14, 2022, and it took effect on September 13, 2022. [23]
Cosponsor on voter ID and concealed carry
The House page for HB 458 lists Thomas Hall as primary sponsor and Merrin among the House cosponsors. Its long title says it modifies “the law governing voter identification and absent voting and other aspects of the Election Law.” Merrin voted yea when the House passed it 68–22 on December 9, 2021 and 55–34 on December 14, 2022. The page shows the governor’s signature and an effective date of April 7, 2023. [32][33]
The House page for SB 215 lists Terry Johnson as primary sponsor and Merrin among the House cosponsors. Its long title describes “a right of a qualifying adult to carry a concealed handgun in the same manner as if the person was a licensee.” The House passed it 58–36 on March 2, 2022, with Merrin among the yeas. His campaign says he “played key roles” in Ohio’s photo-ID requirement and in the right to carry. For these two bills the records show cosponsorship and yea votes, with other members as primary sponsors. [6][34][35]
Family & community
His Ohio House biography says he makes his home in Monclova Township and played basketball for his high school, Monclova Christian Academy. It adds that he is a Bengals fan and a real estate investor. [3]
His local service began in Waterville, where the biography says he joined the city council at 19 and served as mayor from 2008 to 2011. [3]
Neither the official biography nor the campaign website describes a spouse or children, and neither states a religious affiliation. This profile makes no claim about either. [3][6]
His mission for Ohio
“Now, I’m ready to take the fight to Washington - defending our constitutional rights, demanding fiscal responsibility, and bolstering Northwest Ohio’s economy.”
The following summarizes the agenda on Merrin’s official campaign website, which has no separate issues page, together with statements from his campaign video and an April 2026 primary debate as reported by Ohio Capital Journal. These are proposed priorities, not completed accomplishments. [6][10][36]
01Constitutional rights
The campaign website says Merrin would go to Washington “defending our constitutional rights.” Its biography says he played key roles in Ohio’s photo-ID voting requirement and in what it calls the constitutional right to carry. [6]
02Fiscal responsibility and taxes
The site lists “demanding fiscal responsibility” among his aims and says he led efforts in the Ohio legislature to cut the state income tax and reduce regulations. It does not set out a federal budget or tax plan. [6]
03Jobs in Northwest Ohio
“Our comeback starts with more high paying jobs, and I want to fight to bring it back home because we need American jobs to bolster Northwest Ohio’s economy,” Merrin said in his campaign video, as quoted by Ohio Capital Journal in March 2026. [10]
04Immigration enforcement
At a Republican primary debate in Toledo, Merrin said, “Amnesty is a disaster,” and called for “tough enforcement mechanisms” and “secure borders.” He said federal funding should be withheld from sanctuary cities until they come into compliance. [36]
05Women’s sports
“I support a federal law banning men into women’s sports,” he said at the same debate. [36]
06Iran and presidential authority
Ohio Capital Journal reported that Merrin said President Donald Trump had been within his authority on Iran. “I do trust him on this issue,” Merrin said, adding that he hoped the conflict would end very quickly. [36]
07Data centers
Merrin said data centers do not need to be subsidized and do not need tax breaks, Ohio Capital Journal reported. [36]
08“America First” agenda
The site’s slogans are “A STRONG AMERICA!” and “Support the America First Agenda.” It does not define that agenda item by item. [6]
How to assess a proposal. A campaign plan states an intention. Enactment, implementation costs, replacement revenue, and measured results are separate questions. These priorities should be read alongside the documented record above.
The fuller record
A useful profile includes policy tradeoffs, the limits of a claim, and responses to material criticism.
House Bill 6 and the Householder vote
House roll calls record Merrin among the yeas on House Bill 6, which Ohio Capital Journal calls an energy bailout, on May 29 and July 23, 2019. On June 16, 2021 the House voted 75–21 to expel Representative Larry Householder; Merrin was among the nays. The vote followed Householder’s federal indictment; Courthouse News reported that he was “ultimately convicted of bribery.” Ohio Capital Journal reported in January 2023 that Merrin had received about $10,000 from Householder’s Growth & Opportunity PAC and $7,700 from Householder’s official committee. In October 2024 a Kaptur ad said Merrin “should be indicted,” WTVG reported. Merrin’s spokesperson, Emily Benavides, called the ad “a desperate and pathetic attempt to distract voters.” Of the lawmakers who received money from Householder’s PAC, the station wrote: “None of them, aside from Householder, have faced charges.” In May 2026 Kaptur called Merrin a “Householder hanger-on,” Courthouse News reported. The reports reviewed carry no explanation from Merrin of his expulsion vote. [7][14][19][20][21][37]
“Elected leader” and the speakership
The campaign website calls Merrin the “elected leader of the Ohio House Republican Caucus.” Ohio Capital Journal reported that the caucus voted in November 2022 for Merrin to be speaker, and that the full House then elected Jason Stephens, 54–43, with 22 Republicans backing him. Afterward Merrin said, “I’m the leader of the House Republicans.” The caucus later voted for Phil Plummer to chair, and Merrin to co-chair, the Ohio House Republican Alliance, the House Republican campaign fund. In October 2023 Merrin, Plummer and Representative Ron Ferguson sued Stephens and others over control of that fund; Stephens called the suit “the desperate antics of a handful of self-promoting individuals.” A Franklin County judge denied a temporary restraining order in February 2024. This profile did not review the final outcome. The sources show a caucus vote and a contested leadership claim, not that he held the office of speaker. [6][9][24][25]
The eyewear-tax claim and HB 116
Merrin’s Ohio House biography and his campaign website say he “successfully repealed the sales tax on prescription eyewear saving taxpayers $45 million annually (HB116).” The legislature’s status page for HB 116 shows House passage on September 20, 2017, referral to a Senate committee on October 25, 2017, and no later action. A provision can become law through a different bill, such as a budget. The documents reviewed do not show which bill enacted the exemption, and the $45 million figure is the biography’s own, not an independent estimate. [3][6][16]
Data-center tax breaks, then and now
Ohio Capital Journal reported on August 10, 2026 that Merrin “voted for Ohio’s data center tax breaks when he was an Ohio state representative in 2017.” At the April 2026 primary debate he said data centers do not need subsidies or tax breaks. The outlet said Merrin did not respond to its questions for the August story. This profile did not review the 2017 roll call the report refers to. [4][36]
Abortion bills and a 2024 forum answer
Merrin was a primary sponsor of HB 214 and, as House Health Committee chair, voted for SB 23, which Ohio Capital Journal describes as the six-week abortion ban. In February 2023 he said, “The House Republicans do not want abortion enshrined in the constitution.” In a February 2024 report on how Republican candidates were campaigning on abortion after Ohio’s Issue 1, the outlet quoted him at a candidate forum: “I’ve fought to protect the unborn. This last year the citizens of Ohio went a different direction, and amended late-term abortions in the Constitution.” His campaign website lists HB 214 among his legislative work and sets out no federal abortion position. [6][7][18][28][38][39]
Rental properties and Toledo’s lead ordinance
Ohio Capital Journal reported in January 2023 that Merrin “owns rental properties and he’s proposed measures friendly to landlords like himself.” Toledo City Paper reported on August 15, 2017 that Merrin “added an amendment to the state operating budget that would have nullified” Toledo’s lead ordinance. The paper quoted a May 2017 online post in which Merrin wrote: “Let’s start with a simple fact: Toledo’s law is unconstitutional. It targets a small minority of property owners and treats them unequally under the law.” It said he declined to comment for its article. The reports reviewed do not say whether Merrin’s own properties were covered by the ordinance, and they record no finding by any ethics body. [7][40]
Questions & answers
Who is Derek Merrin?
What office is Derek Merrin running for in 2026?
Who is Derek Merrin running against?
When is the election?
The general election is on November 3, 2026. [1]
What are Derek Merrin’s main campaign priorities?
What has Derek Merrin done in office?
The sources behind the story
Primary government documents anchor the record. Official biographies establish attributed background; original reporting supplies election results and scrutiny. Campaign materials are used for the candidate’s own priorities and claims.
- 01Candidate List for November 3, 2026 General ElectionWood County Board of Elections · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
County election authority’s list, marked as of August 26, 2026. For the 9th Congressional District it names Kaptur (Democratic), Merrin (Republican) and a write-in candidate. It lists a Libertarian in the 5th District and none in the 9th.Government / regulatory record - 02Derek Merrin, Eric Conroy, and Carey Coleman win Ohio GOP congressional primary racesOhio Capital Journal · May 5, 2026
Megan Henry’s primary-night report: the Associated Press projection, unofficial percentages for five candidates, and the October 2025 congressional map.Independent reporting - 03Derek Merrin: BiographyOhio House of Representatives · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Official legislative biography: 2016 appointment, fourth term, 42nd District, committee chairmanships, degrees, Waterville offices and residence. Its descriptions of bills are the member’s own and are not an audit of outcomes.Government / regulatory record - 04Ohio’s 9th Congressional district race: The candidates’ records on data centersOhio Capital Journal · Aug. 10, 2026
Reports a 2017 vote for data-center tax breaks and says Merrin did not respond to the outlet’s questions. Names Merrin as the Republican nominee facing Kaptur.Independent reporting - 05Candidate Filings for November 3rd, 2026 General ElectionErie County Board of Elections · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Second county election authority’s list: Kaptur (Democratic), Merrin (Republican) and write-in Kathy McKinstry for the 9th District. The document prints no as-of date.Government / regulatory record - 06Derek Merrin for Congress: campaign websiteDerek Merrin for Congress · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Campaign biography, stated purpose, slogans and social links. The site has no separate issues page. Its claims are the campaign’s.Campaign source - 07Who is likely incoming Ohio House speaker Derek Merrin?Ohio Capital Journal · Jan. 3, 2023
Nick Evans’s profile: Waterville offices, work in the state auditor’s office, the 2016 appointment, the Health Committee chairmanship, Householder-linked contributions and the expulsion vote. It carries no explanation from Merrin of that vote.Independent reporting - 08House Bill 126, 134th General AssemblyOhio House of Representatives · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Bill page: long title, and Merrin listed as primary sponsor for District 47.Government / regulatory record - 09After losing speakership, Derek Merrin and allies revoltOhio Capital Journal · Jan. 12, 2023
Morgan Trau’s report on the November caucus vote, the 54–43 floor vote for Jason Stephens and Merrin’s statements afterward.Independent reporting - 10Meet the Republican candidates running in Ohio’s 9th Congressional District primaryOhio Capital Journal · Mar. 16, 2026
Candidate backgrounds, Merrin’s campaign-video statement on jobs, the 2024 vote totals and Kaptur’s tenure since 1983.Independent reporting - 11Derek MerrinBallotpedia · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Used for the 2024 general-election table (percentages, votes, total) because the Ohio Secretary of State’s site refused automated fetches. Its 2026 general-election section had not been updated when reviewed.Independent analysis / professional record - 12FEC Form 2, Statement of Candidacy: Derek Merrin (filing FEC-1981893)Federal Election Commission · Filed June 8, 2026
Candidate ID H4OH09169; Republican Party; House, Ohio district 9, 2026; principal campaign committee Derek Merrin for Congress (C00909630). Read on docquery because fec.gov data pages and the API refused automated fetches.Government / regulatory record - 13Redistricting redraws Ohio’s 9th District ahead of 2026 Kaptur-Merrin rematchBallotpedia News · Aug. 6, 2026
David Luchs’s overview: 2024 percentages, the 2024 presidential vote within the new lines and race ratings. It names a Libertarian, Matthew Althaus, who is not on the later county election lists.Independent analysis / professional record - 14GOP voters send Merrin to rematch with longtime congresswoman in Ohio’s 9th DistrictCourthouse News Service · May 6, 2026
Kevin Koeninger’s report gives primary vote totals, the 2,382-vote margin of 2024 and the Kaptur campaign’s criticism over Larry Householder.Independent reporting - 15FEC Form 3, July Quarterly report: Derek Merrin for Congress (filing FEC-1995875)Federal Election Commission · Filed July 15, 2026
Committee’s own report for April 16 through June 30, 2026: receipts, disbursements, cash on hand, candidate loans and debts. Figures are as reported by the committee and are not audited totals.Government / regulatory record - 16House Bill 116, 132nd General Assembly: statusOhio Legislature · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Bill history ends with referral to the Senate Ways and Means Committee on October 25, 2017. The page shows no Senate passage or governor’s signature for this bill.Government / regulatory record - 17House Bill 214, 132nd General Assembly: statusOhio Legislature · Signed Dec. 22, 2017
Bill history: primary sponsors LaTourette and Merrin, passage dates, governor’s signature and effective date. The page records legislative steps only.Government / regulatory record - 18Senate Bill 23, 133rd General Assembly: votesOhio House of Representatives · Apr. 10, 2019
Roll calls with members’ names: committee vote of April 9, 2019 (11–7) and House passage on April 10, 2019 (56–40). Merrin is listed among the yeas in both.Government / regulatory record - 19House Bill 6, 133rd General Assembly: votesOhio House of Representatives · July 23, 2019
Roll calls of May 29 and July 23, 2019 with members’ names; Merrin is listed among the yeas on both.Government / regulatory record - 20House Resolution 69, 134th General Assembly: votesOhio Legislature · June 16, 2021
Roll call on the expulsion resolution: adopted with 75 yeas and 21 nays; Merrin is listed among the nays. A roll call records a vote, not the member’s reasons.Government / regulatory record - 21House Resolution 69, 134th General Assembly: Expel Representative Larry HouseholderOhio Legislature · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Resolution page: title and primary sponsors Mark Fraizer and Brian Stewart.Government / regulatory record - 22House Bill 126, 134th General Assembly: statusOhio Legislature · Signed Apr. 20, 2022
Bill history: sponsor, passage in both chambers, conference managers, governor’s signature and effective date.Government / regulatory record - 23House Bill 140, 134th General Assembly: statusOhio Legislature · Signed June 14, 2022
Bill history: House and Senate passage, governor’s signature and effective date.Government / regulatory record - 24Ohio Republican infighting drama continues as lawsuit filed against House speakerOhio Capital Journal · Oct. 11, 2023
Morgan Trau’s report on the Franklin County lawsuit over the House Republican campaign fund, with Speaker Stephens’s response.Independent reporting - 25Judge weighs in on Ohio House GOP infighting, denies restraining order on campaign fundsOhio Capital Journal · Feb. 15, 2024
Reports Judge Mark Serrott’s denial of a temporary restraining order. It does not report the final outcome of the case.Independent reporting - 26Derek Merrin for Congress News (campaign news feed)Derek Merrin for Congress · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Campaign releases from December 2023 to July 2024, including the 2024 launch and endorsement announcements. The feed carried no 2026 items when reviewed.Campaign source - 27Derek Merrin for Congress (C00909630): filings indexFederal Election Commission · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Lists the committee’s filings, beginning with a new Form 1 filed July 1, 2025, and its quarterly and pre-primary reports.Government / regulatory record - 28House Bill 214, 132nd General Assembly: Prohibit abortion if unborn has or may have Down SyndromeOhio Legislature · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Bill page: long title, primary sponsors LaTourette and Merrin, 49 cosponsors, enrolled version.Government / regulatory record - 29Preterm-Cleveland v. McCloud, No. 18-3329 (en banc)U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit · Decided Apr. 13, 2021
Court opinion reversing a district court’s preliminary injunction against H.B. 214. It rules on a preliminary injunction; later proceedings were not reviewed.Government / regulatory record - 30House Bill 116, 132nd General Assembly: Exempt optical aids from sales taxOhio Legislature · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Bill page: long title, primary sponsor Merrin and 66 cosponsors.Government / regulatory record - 31House Bill 140, 134th General Assembly: Enact Ballot Uniformity and Transparency ActOhio Legislature · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Bill page: long title, primary sponsor Merrin, enrolled version.Government / regulatory record - 32House Bill 458, 134th General AssemblyOhio House of Representatives · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Bill page: long title on voter identification and absent voting, primary sponsor Thomas Hall, Merrin among House cosponsors, governor’s signature and April 7, 2023 effective date.Government / regulatory record - 33House Bill 458, 134th General Assembly: votesOhio House of Representatives · Dec. 14, 2022
Roll calls of December 9, 2021 (68–22) and December 14, 2022 (55–34); Merrin is listed among the yeas on both.Government / regulatory record - 34Senate Bill 215, 134th General AssemblyOhio House of Representatives · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Bill page: long title on concealed handguns, primary sponsor Terry Johnson, Merrin among House cosponsors.Government / regulatory record - 35Senate Bill 215, 134th General Assembly: votesOhio House of Representatives · Mar. 2, 2022
House passage on March 2, 2022, 58–36; Merrin is listed among the yeas.Government / regulatory record - 36All five Republican candidates running for Ohio’s 9th Congressional District debate before primaryOhio Capital Journal · Apr. 20, 2026
Megan Henry’s report of the Toledo primary debate hosted by VoteRPac, with Merrin’s statements on immigration, Iran, women’s sports and data centers.Independent reporting - 37Merrin campaign responds to new Kaptur ad calling for his indictmentWTVG 13abc · Oct. 20, 2024
Josh Croup’s report on a Kaptur ad, with statements from both campaigns; it says no lawmaker other than Householder has faced charges. The station counts 20 votes against expulsion; the House roll call lists 21 nays.Independent reporting - 38Ohio state Rep. Derek Merrin lays out ‘competing’ set of Republican prioritiesOhio Capital Journal · Feb. 23, 2023
Nick Evans’s report on the agenda Merrin presented after the speakership vote and on his standing within the House Republican caucus.Independent reporting - 39How are GOP candidates campaigning on abortion in a post-Issue 1 Ohio?Ohio Capital Journal · Feb. 14, 2024
Nick Evans’s report quoting Merrin’s answer on abortion at a 2024 candidate forum in Hicksville.Independent reporting - 40Toledo’s Lead Law: Questions over fairness and cost of complianceToledo City Paper · Aug. 15, 2017
Joel Sensenig’s report says Merrin added a state budget amendment that would have nullified Toledo’s lead ordinance, quotes his online post and says he declined to comment. It does not say whether his own properties were covered by the ordinance.Independent reporting
No matching sources. Try “House”, “election” or “campaign.”
Scope & method. Reviewed September 17, 2026. This is a documented overview of publicly available biography, major actions, and stated priorities, not an exhaustive vote-by-vote record. Numerical claims retain their original meaning and attribution. Historical sources do not imply current appointments. The source list provides direct links so readers can check the underlying material. Election lists, filings, and campaign pages may change after this review.
Images. Conservative Ledger masthead supplied by the site creator. No photograph is published here: the Ledger uses only public-domain U.S. Government works or images under an explicit free licence, and none had been cleared for this profile at the time of review.
Where to find the candidate
Every link below was read from the campaign’s own website or the candidate’s official government page. A follower count is printed only where it was measured; otherwise the link is published and the number is left blank rather than guessed at.
Voting in Ohio: official dates, deadlines and rules
The general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The dates and rules below were read from the Ohio Secretary of State; the authority's own page, linked beside each one, is the final word.
Dates and deadlines
- Voter registration deadlineMonday, October 5, 2026, for the November 3, 2026 general election. A registration form (a new registration, or a change of name or address) must be postmarked or received by October 5, 2026. Ways to register: online through the Secretary of State's online voter registration system (olvr.ohiosos.gov); by mail; or in person at your county board of elections or at another registration site such as a Bureau of Motor Vehicles office or a public library. Read from: boe.ohio.gov/clark/election-info/registration-deadlines
- Registration deadline — by mailPostmarked no later than Monday, October 5, 2026, when the form is mailed to your county board of elections or to the Secretary of State's office. Read from: boe.ohio.gov/clark/election-info/registration-deadlines
- Registration deadline — in personReceived no later than Monday, October 5, 2026, when the form is handed in rather than mailed. The county boards of elections that print their hours for that day stay open late: Montgomery County, “office open until 9:00 p.m.”; Summit County, “Our office is open until 9 PM on that date.” Read from: boe.ohio.gov/montgomery/election-info/registration-deadlines
- Absentee (mail) ballots start going outTuesday, October 6, 2026, the day after registration closes. The Summit County board's 2026 calendar says absentee ballots “must be ready” that day, and the Hamilton County board says it starts mailing absentee ballots on October 6, 2026. Read from: boe.ohio.gov/summit/c/upload/ElectionsCalendar.pdf
- Early in-person voting beginsTuesday, October 6, 2026, at 8:00 a.m., at your county board of elections (each board prints the address of its early voting center). The Montgomery, Greene, Miami, Franklin and Summit county boards of elections print the same schedule: October 6–9 (Tuesday–Friday), 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; October 12–16 (Monday–Friday), 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; October 19–23 (Monday–Friday), 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Saturday, October 24, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Monday, October 26, 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday, October 27, 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Wednesday, October 28 to Friday, October 30, 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, October 31, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Sunday, November 1, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Read from: boe.ohio.gov/montgomery/election-info/early-voting-hours
- Early in-person voting endsSunday, November 1, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Franklin County board's schedule calls it the “Final Day of Early Voting,” and the Summit County board says the last day for in-person absentee voting is the Sunday before Election Day at 5:00 p.m. The schedules printed by the county boards list no early voting hours for Monday, November 2, 2026. Read from: vote.franklincountyohio.gov/voters/absentee-and-early-voting
- Deadline to request an absentee (mail) ballotTuesday, October 27, 2026: your county board of elections must RECEIVE your absentee ballot application by the close of business that day, the seventh day before Election Day. County boards print the closing time as 8:30 p.m.: Hamilton County, “until 8:30 pm on October 27th”; Lorain County, “Tuesday, October 27 by 8:30 P.M.” The application must be mailed or delivered in person; the Summit and Greene county boards say faxed or e-mailed requests from domestic voters are not accepted. Read from: votehamiltoncountyohio.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Nov-2026-Election-Cal-.pdf
- Deadline to return an absentee (mail) ballotTuesday, November 3, 2026, 7:30 p.m. — the ballot must be RECEIVED by your county board of elections by then; this is a received-by deadline, not a postmark deadline. The Secretary of State's absentee application (Form 11-A, 06/2026) says: “Ohio law requires all absentee ballots to be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day,” whether the ballot comes back by mail, in the drop box located at your county board of elections, or in person at the board office. Exception printed on the same form: ballots from members of the uniformed services and from voters outside the United States must be received by the fourth day after the election. Read from: boe.ohio.gov/comoh/Absentee_Request_11-A.pdf
Rules to know
- What to bringOhio requires photo identification to vote in person, both during early in-person voting and on Election Day. The ID must not be expired and must show your name and photograph. Accepted: an Ohio driver's license, state ID card or interim ID form issued by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles; a U.S. passport or passport card; or a U.S. military ID card, Ohio National Guard ID card or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card. The Hamilton and Butler county boards also list a U.S. military dependent ID card. If you do not have or cannot show photo ID, you may vote a provisional ballot; for it to be counted you must go to your county board of elections within four days after Election Day and show photo ID. Voting by mail works differently: the absentee ballot application asks for the last four digits of your Social Security number, your Ohio driver's license or state ID card number, or a copy of your photo ID. Read from: vote.franklincountyohio.gov/voters/identification-requirements
- Voting by mail (absentee)Any registered Ohio voter may vote absentee by mail; the Greene County board notes that voters no longer have to state a reason. Ask for a ballot with the Absentee Ballot Application (Form 11-A, prescribed by the Secretary of State), or call your county board of elections and ask it to mail you an application. The application must include ONE of these: the last four digits of your Social Security number; your Ohio driver's license or state ID card number; or a copy of a current photo ID (front and back; for a passport, the identification page). Mail it or hand it in to your county board of elections so that the board RECEIVES it by the close of business on Tuesday, October 27, 2026; the Summit and Greene county boards say faxed or e-mailed requests from domestic voters are not accepted. Return your voted ballot so that the board RECEIVES it by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026: by mail with postage affixed (the form says to mail it as soon as possible), in the drop box located at your county board of elections, or in person at the board office. Only you or a near relative may deliver your ballot; a voter with a disability may choose anyone other than their employer or an officer of their union, and whoever delivers a ballot for someone else must complete an attestation form (Form 12-P) at the board office. Do not take an absentee ballot to your Election Day polling place: the Summit County board says ballots left there will not be counted. If you were mailed an absentee ballot and decide to vote at your polling place on Election Day instead, you will have to vote a provisional ballot. Read from: boe.ohio.gov/comoh/Absentee_Request_11-A.pdf
- Early in-person votingOhio's early voting is in-person absentee voting: from Tuesday, October 6 to Sunday, November 1, 2026 you can vote in person at your own county's early voting center, which in the counties read is the county board of elections office (the Hamilton County board says early in-person voting takes place “ONLY at the Board of Elections”). The days and hours are listed above under “Early in-person voting begins”; the Montgomery, Greene, Miami, Franklin and Summit county boards print the identical schedule, which includes two Saturdays and one Sunday and no hours on Monday, November 2, 2026. Bring photo ID: the Franklin County board lists the same identification requirements for early in-person voting and for Election Day. Read from: vote.franklincountyohio.gov/voters/absentee-and-early-voting
- Track your absentee ballotThe Secretary of State's absentee application (Form 11-A) says: “You can track your request and your ballot online at VoteOhio.gov/Track.” County boards of elections also post their own trackers, for example “Track your Absentee Ballot” (Summit County), “Absentee Request Status” (Greene County) and “Track the status of your mail-in ballot” (Franklin County). Read from: boe.ohio.gov/comoh/Absentee_Request_11-A.pdf
Read from: Absentee Ballot Application — Form 11-A Prescribed by the Ohio Secretary of State (06/2026) · 2026 ELECTIONS CALENDAR · SUMMIT COUNTY – Board of Elections · Summit County In-Person Absentee Voting For the November 3, 2026 General Election · Absentee Voting – SUMMIT COUNTY · SUMMIT COUNTY General Election - November 3, 2026 (Official Candidate List) — Rules and dates as of Sep 17, 2026
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