Ohio’s Primary Election Results: US Congressional races in OH-2, OH-6, OH-9

Political newcomers and current state lawmakers won in Ohio’s primary races for the 2nd, 6th, and 9th U.S. Congressional Districts.

OH-2 

Businessman David Taylor is the Republican nominee for Ohio’s open 2nd Congressional District, covering a large swath of south central Ohio, with 25 percent of the vote, according to unofficial AP results. 

Taylor, who described himself as a “rock-ribbed conservative” on his campaign website, is set to go up against the sole Democratic candidate Samantha Meadows in November. Taylor has never served in a political office before. 

“I am honored by the trust the voters have placed in me today,” Taylor said in a statement. “I am exceptionally grateful to my family, friends and our countless volunteers that made tonight’s victory possible.”

Meadows was the Democratic nominee for the 2nd Congressional District in 2022.

“We need to focus on developing new economic and educational opportunities,” Meadows said in a statement. “We need to fight unfair gerrymandering and address problems that affect us all, like drug traffic, and access to high-speed internet for all. We just must find ways to work together and build communities.”

U.S. Congressman Brad Wenstrup will retire at the end of his term which paved the way for 11 Republicans to be on the ballot —

Tim O’Hara — 21 percent
Larry Kidd — 19 percent
State Sen. Shane Wilkin — 9.5 percent
Ron Hood — 9 percent
Phil Heimlich — 5 percent
Tom Hwang — 3.2 percent
Kim Georgeton — 2.3 percent
Charles Tassell — 1.8 percent
State Sen. Niraj Antani — 1.75 percent
Derek Myers — 1.6 percent.

OH-6 

State Sen. Michael Rulli and Michael Kripchak will face off in a June 11 special election to fill the vacancy in Ohio’s open 6th U.S. Congressional District along the eastern border of the state, according to unofficial AP results. 

Rulli, who serves Salem, earned 49.6 percent of the vote on the Republican side — beating out state Rep. Reggie Stoltzfus of Paris Township and East Palestine chiropractor Rick Tsai.

On the Democratic side, Kripchak beat Rylan Finzer with a vote of 64 percent of the vote, according to unofficial AP results. 

Kripchak previously served in the U.S. Air Force and worked in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles before moving back to Youngstown. 

Former Congressman Bill Johnson vacated his congressional seat earlier this year when he started his new role as Youngstown State University president. 

OH-9 

Republican state Rep. Derek Merrin will try to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur for Ohio’s 9th Congressional District seat in the November election. 

Merrin, who represents Monclova, won 48 percent of the votes, according to unofficial AP results. He has served in the Ohio House of Representatives since 2016, but lost the Speaker of the House election last year to Jason Stephens. Former President Donald Trump endorsed Merrin for Congress.

Former state Rep. Craig Riedel received 38 percent of votes, and former Napoleon Mayor Steve Lankenau got 13 percent of votes, according to  unofficial AP results. 

Kaptur is the longest-serving woman in congressional history and is looking to be reelected for a 22nd time. She was first elected in 1982.

Megan Henry is a reporter for the Ohio Capital Journal and has spent the past five years reporting in Ohio on various topics including education, healthcare, business and crime. She previously worked at The Columbus Dispatch, part of the USA Today Network. Follow OCJ Reporter Megan Henry on X.

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