Ohio Democrats look to have flipped three US Congressional districts, will hold 8 seats to GOP’s 7

All five Ohio Democratic incumbents held their U.S. Congressional district seats Tuesday while Democratic challengers have flipped three Republican seats according to unofficial results.

According to Associated Press projections, Ohio Democratic candidate Brian Poindexter won Ohio’s 7th Congressional district, beating incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Max Miller, and Democrat Don Leonard defeated Ohio Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Carey.

Decision Desk HQ projects that Democratic challenger Kristina Knickerbocker also defeated Ohio Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, while the DCCC congratulated her and she gave a victory speech, the Dayton Daily News reports.

“On the campaign trail, you trusted me with your stories, and I’m taking every one of them to Washington,” Knickerbocker said in a statement. 

“I will never stop showing up for this community. I’ll be in our neighborhoods, at kitchen tables, listening to you. I’m fighting for you in Congress – making sure our community is always heard and delivering real results.”

Results will remain unofficial until they are certified by election officials later this month.

Nationally, Democratic candidates flipped control of the U.S. House in the Midterm elections Tuesday night.

Miller, who has served in Congress since 2023, is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for allegations he “may have engaged in domestic violence and abuse or illegal drug use.”

Allegations of domestic violence against Miller caused several prominent Republicans to call for his resignation over the summer — a movement led by Miller’s ex-father-in-law, U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno. Miller denies the allegations against him.

“Starting tomorrow, I’m getting to work on what I promised from day one: bringing down the cost of groceries, gas, and health care, raising wages, banning stock trading by members of Congress, and getting corporate and dark money out of our politics,” Poindexter said in a statement.

Ohio’s 15th Congressional district

Ohio Democrat Don Leonard beat incumbent Ohio Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Carey for Ohio’s 15th Congressional district.

Leonard previously taught regional and city planning at Ohio State University and Carey has served in Congress since 2021.

“We’ve built something real. Let’s get to work,” Leonard said in a statement.

Ohio’s 1st Congressional District

Democratic U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman won Ohio’s 1st Congressional District, beating Republican Eric Conroy, the Associated Press projected Tuesday.

Landsman has served in Congress since 2023. 

Ohio’s 13th District 

Ohio Democratic U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes won Ohio’s 13 Congressional District, beating Republican Carey Coleman, the Associated Press projected Tuesday.

Sykes has served in Congress since 2023. 

“It is my great honor to be re-elected to represent my community,” she said in a statement. 

“I will continue to fight to bring down costs and keep more money in your pockets, address the corruption in Washington that is making politicians rich while Ohioans suffer, and overturn policies that are stripping healthcare and food benefits away from kids and the elderly.”

Ohio’s 10th Congressional District

Ohio’s 10th Congressional district race between incumbent Ohio Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Turner and Democrat Kristina Knickerbocker was too close to call late Tuesday night. 

Turner has served in Congress since 2003, and Knickerbocker is an U.S. Air Force Veteran and oncology nurse practitioner.

Ohio’s 9th Congressional District

Ohio Democratic U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur won Ohio’s 9th Congressional District, beating Republican Derek Merrin, the Associated Press projected Wednesday morning. 

“I am deeply honored that the people of Northwest Ohio have placed their trust in me to represent them in the 120th Congress,” Kaptur said in a statement. 

“I return to the House more determined than ever to deliver for the people of Northwest Ohio — bringing home the investments our hardworking people and communities need and deserve, lowering costs for working families, rooting out corruption, and building an economy that rewards work, not just wealth.”

Kaptur has represented Ohio’s 9th congressional district since 1983 — making her the longest-serving woman in congressional history.

Merrin served four terms as an Ohio state representative for the Toledo district from 2016 to 2025. He lost a close race to Kaptur during the 2024 election.

Ohio’s remaining congressional districts

Republican Ohio U.S. Reps. Dave Taylor, Jim Jordan, Bob Latta, Michael Rulli, Warren Davidson, Troy Balderson, and David Joyce all won their races. 

Democratic Ohio U.S. Reps. Joyce Beatty and Shontel Brown both won their races.

Follow Ohio Capital Journal Reporter Megan Henry on X or on Bluesky.