The United States Capitol on March 14, 2024 (Photo: Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)
Democratic incumbents in three of Ohio’s most competitive congressional districts are flooding their opponents with fundraising ahead of the key midterm elections.
In the last quarter of 2025, U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Toledo raised more than $537,000. The three Republicans running against her earned a combined total of about $545,000. Hood also has a huge advantage when it comes to cash on hand.
In Cincinnati, U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman raised more than twice as much as his Republican opponents raised.
In Akron, U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes’ lead is closer to 9-1 after GOP leader Kevin Coughlin left the race.
Coughlin, who narrowly lost to Sykes in 2024, stepped down after Ohio’s fresh congressional map was approved last November. These changes gave Sykes a little more breathing room in a district that was previously tied. In statement regarding XCoughlin explained: “I don’t see a path to victory and I can’t ask our fans to continue to invest their time and treasures in this race.”
However, these fresh district boundaries moved Kaptur’s and Landsman’s districts further to the right, potentially reducing the incumbents’ monetary advantage. Midterm elections often go poorly for the incumbent president’s party, and President Donald Trump’s popularity is low, at least for now. low level of polls. Still, the fresh district lines give Landsman and Kaptur’s campaigns less margin for error.
Ohio is home to essential U.S. congressional district races
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, however, is not worried. In a statement, spokeswoman Riya Vashi said: “Greg Landsman, Marcy Kaptur and Emilia Sykes are battle-tested people in their positions who have shown they know how to fight and deliver for Ohioans – and they can prove it with grassroots support.”
She argued that Republican policies are raising household costs, while Democrats are “laser focused” on lowering them and protecting health care.
“Across the state,” Vashi added, “Ohio voters know who is on their side, and these numbers show it.”
In an update following the approval of the congressional map, the University of Virginia Policy Center moved Cincinnati’s Landsman district from Democratic to no-party and moved Toledo’s Kaptur district from dissenting to Republican.
Another observer of the race, The Cook Political Report, changed in January his assessment for Kaptur’s seat from leaning Republican to tossed up.
OH-1, Cincinnati
Landsman has raised just over half a million dollars to close 2025. With shared fundraising transfers including the quarterly amount, its total is approximately $541,000. The congressman spent about $143,000 this quarter, with the largest expenses being on surveys and strategic consulting or fundraising. Landsman ended the year with nearly $1.5 million in cash.
Republicans running against him include Rosemary Oglesby-Henry, CEO of a nonprofit that advocates for teen mothers; Masonic dentist, Steven Erbeck; and Eric Conroy, an Air Force veteran and former CIA case officer.
In total, Oglesby-Henry earned about $11,000 at the end of the year. Conroy finished with over $175,000 and Erbeck earned $195,000 from a $150,000 personal loan.
Both Conroy and Erbeck supported their campaigns with personal loans worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Conroy previously donated $287,500 to his campaign. Including the latest loan, Erbeck put down $400,000. Conroy also appears to be running much of his campaign on credit – paying off $33,000 worth of early expenses in the fourth quarter while incurring $72,000 more.
Both candidates had just under half a million dollars in cash at the end of the year, or less than a third of Landsman’s total.
OH-9, Toledo
Of the three most competitive places in Ohio, Hood probably presents the most challenge. In addition to redistricting that includes more GOP voters, Kaptur’s potential opponents include current and former state lawmakers who will enter the race with more experience and name recognition than first-time candidates.
Former state MP Derek Merrin lost to Hood in 2024 and is seeking a rematch. He added over $200,000 to his coffers in the last quarter of 2025, and with about $356,000 on hand, he leads the field in the Republican Party. However, Merrin’s quarterly total was boosted by a $120,000 personal loan. He has donated $235,000 to his campaign so far.
First-time candidate Alea Nadeem raised more than $160,000 in direct donations this quarter, more than doubling Merrin’s total. In press release Air Force veteran said, “We won’t beat Hood with recycled candidates, career politicians laden with baggage, or campaigns run by consultants designed to amplify confidential information rather than win elections.”
Incumbent Rep. Josh Williams, R-Sylvania Township, raised the most this quarter, bringing in more than $300,000. In a press release, his campaign manager Meg Deneen insisted Williams was “the only candidate with real momentum.” She dismissed Merrin’s personal loan as an “accounting trick” to hide a snail-paced quarter and criticized Nadeem for wasting cash as quickly as it raises it.
Deneen also cited Madison Sheahan, former deputy director of the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who announced her own offer in January. Deneen said Sheahan is “untested, unknown and hauling two U-Haul shipments of luggage.” Because Sheahan entered the race after the filing deadline, she has not yet filed a fundraising report with the Federal Election Commission.
As GOP candidates make their way through a crowded field, Kaptur is stocking up on cash. The more than $537,000 she raised was the most of any candidate this quarter, and the roughly $133,000 she spent was the least. Kaptur’s $1.7 million in cash is more than double the Republicans’ total holdings.
OH-13, Akron
While Landsman and Kaptur may face a tough challenge in November, the path may be open for Sykes. When Coughlin decided to withdraw from the race, he had already raised about $27,000. That’s more than the other candidates in the field, Republican Margaret Briem and Independent Sandeep Dixit.
In the final quarter of 2025, Briem raised just over $900, bringing her total cash to approximately $1,300. Dixit made almost $23,000 and loaned his campaign another $4,000. He ended the year with about $7,300 in his account.
In January, the mayor of Lietonia, Kevin Siembida, also threw his hat into the ring. It is worth noting that Lietonia is more than 40 km away from the 13th congressional district. Siembida Has he told reporters if he wins, he will move to the district. Because the announcement came after the reporting deadline, Siembida has not yet filed a fundraising report.
Emilia Sykes raised over $450,000 in direct donations and then added another $40,000 in transfers from collaborative fundraising efforts. Her campaign spent about $177,000 this quarter, with the biggest expenses coming from direct mail and fundraising or digital strategy consulting. Sykes ended the year with about $1.3 million in cash.
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