CLEVELAND — Things went former President Donald Trump's way on Tuesday in a pair of high-profile elections in Ohio that could determine Republicans' chances of picking up critical seats this fall and expanding their power in Washington.
In the bruising and expensive primary to face Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown this fall, voters chose Trump-backed Cleveland businessman Bernie Moreno over state Sen. Matt Dolan and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose. In northwest Ohio, state Rep. Derek Merrin prevailed over former state Rep. Craig Riedel a day after Trump endorsed him. Merrin will face longtime U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur in November's general election.
In Ohio's 9th Congressional District held by Kaptur, the longest-serving woman in Congress, Trump's endorsement of Merrin on Monday was the final twist for a months-long roller coaster ride of a contest. The race included swift entries and exits, candidate gaffes and bouncing endorsements. At one point, Vance, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Jim Jordan, a vocal Trump ally, were aligned with three competing campaigns in the area that includes all of Erie County.
Things settled down when Trump-aligned candidate J.R. Majewski, who lost badly to Kaptur in 2022, abruptly left the race earlier this month amid pushback for remarks he made disparaging Special Olympics athletes.
That left three candidates in the race: Merrin, backed by Johnson — and, as of Monday, Trump; Riedel, backed by Jordan; and former Napoleon Mayor Steve Lankenau.
Merrin, 37, is a term-limited fourth-term state representative who led an intraparty rebellion in the Ohio House last year after losing a bitter battle for speaker. He joined the congressional race on the filing deadline after audio that surfaced of Riedel criticizing Trump began raising concerns inside the party about Riedel's electability.
Riedel, 57, was among candidates who lost the nomination to Majewski in 2022. He raised more than $1.1 million headed into primary day, the highest of any candidate and some 10 times more than Merrin. But Merrin has benefited from help from national Republicans, with the Congressional Leadership Fund spending more than $750,000 on his behalf.
Meanwhile, state Sen. Michael Rulli has won the Republican primary in Eastern Ohio's 6th Congressional District and will face Democrat Michael Kripchak, who won the Democratic primary for the seat. The 6th District is home to East Palestine, the village that is still suffering from the effects of last year's toxic train derailment, and is considered solidly red.
In the district that includes all of Carroll County as well as parts of Stark and Tuscarawas counties, constituents voted not once, but twice in Tuesday's primary: first for a nominee to run in a June special election whose winner will fill out the remainder of former Rep. Bill Johnson's current term; and in the November general election, whose winner will start a full new term in January 2025. Rulli won both nominations.
Johnson resigned before his term ended to become president of Youngstown State University Jan. 21, prompting Gov. Mike DeWine to schedule the summer special election to fill the role until the start of the 2025 congressional term.
The heart of the district, which runs along the Ohio River in the eastern part of the state, is East Palestine, a small community that recently observed the one-year anniversary of a devastating train derailment.
The village, which sits just west of the Pennsylvania border, says it is still feeling the impact of an intentional toxic chemical release that authorities conducted to keep the derailed train cars from exploding.
Rulli defeated current state Rep. Reggie Stoltzfus of Stark County and Rick Tsai, a chiropractor from East Palestine, to secure the GOP nomination.
The Mahoning County native and current Columbiana County resident, has served as a state senator since 2019. He's also director of operations for Rulli Bros. Market, a grocery company founded over 100 years ago by his grandfather and great-uncle.
Rulli said in a phone interview that he's very happy and thankful for his win, and that he's looking forward to advocating for the district — especially its blue collar workforce.
Rulli campaigned on mainstream conservative issues, such as securing the United States' southern border, supporting gun rights, and opposing abortion. He has secured key endorsements from the National Rifle Association and Ohio Right to Life, an anti-abortion organization. He is also an advocate for increasing oil and gas production within Ohio instead of getting energy outside the United States.
Several East Palestine officials endorsed Rulli's run, and Rulli emphasized in a phone interview that there's still a lot of work to be done in East Palestine to ensure the village is safe and the community's anxieties are addressed.
The National Republican Congressional Committee congratulated Rulli in an emailed statement Tuesday night.
"Michael has a strong, conservative record of delivering results in the state legislature. With Michael on the ballot, we look forward to maintaining this district as a Republican stronghold and welcoming him to Congress with a strong Republican majority," committee spokesperson Mike Marinella said in the email.
Finally, in the 13th Congressional District centered around Akron and Canton, former state Sen. Kevin Coughlin handily earned the GOP nod over Hudson City Councilman Chris Banweg and imaging technician Richard A. Morckel. Coughlin has focused his campaign on emboldening law enforcement, curbing government spending, and aiding small businesses, and will face incumbent Democratic Rep. Emilia Sykes in what is expected to be a close race.
Here are the remaining Congressional matchups in Northeast Ohio (incumbents listed first):
- 4th District: Rep. Jim Jordan (R) vs. Tamie Wilson (D)
- 5th District: Rep. Bob Latta (R) vs. Keith Mundy (D)
- 7th District: Rep. Max Miller (R) vs. Matt Diemer (D) vs. former U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (I)
- 11th District: Rep. Shontel Brown (D) vs. former Cleveland Heights Mayor Alan Rapoport (R)
- 12th District: Rep. Troy Balderson (R) vs. Jerrad Christian (D)
- 14th District: Rep. Dave Joyce (R) vs. Brian Bob Kenderes (D)