Ohio’s Republican primaries for US House promise crowded ballots and a heated toss-up

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A slew of Republican candidates on Ohio’s primary ballot are running in solidly red congressional seats, but next week’s elections still promise plenty of drama — especially as the GOP seeks a champion to flip the district of Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur, the longest-serving woman in Congress.

Democrats also have their own primary challenges in the more urban and solidly-left districts this month, although those battles aren’t as closely watched as the diverse GOP matchups.

Secure doesn’t mean boring. This year’s GOP primaries include a jam-packed race in southern Ohio, the future representation of East Palestine a year after the toxic train derailment, and a contentious primary that could unseat Kaptur, who is one of the GOP’s biggest targets in the fierce fight over control of the U.S. House.

A ROLLER COASTER RIDE ON OHIO’S LAKE ERIE COAST

The fight for the Republican nomination to take on Kaptur this fall has been anything but dull.

But after a chaotic start, national Republicans are feeling more optimistic about their chances in Ohio’s 9th Congressional District, which stretches along the Lake Erie coast in northwest Ohio.

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