TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) 鈥 Democrat Marcy Kaptur, the longest-serving woman in U.S. House history, won another term after facing her toughest challenge in decades, while longtime Republican Rep. Steve Chabot lost his seat in a newly redrawn district.
The victories for Democrats on Tuesday were rare bright spots in Ohio鈥檚 mid-term elections that saw the party suffer defeats in all statewide races.
Cincinnati City Council member Greg Landsman knocked off Chabot, who was first elected to Congress in 1994. Democrats saw an opening to pick off Chabot this year after Ohio redrew its congressional maps to encompass more of Democrat-friendly Cincinnati into the district.
鈥淚 thought we could overcome that, and we almost did,鈥 Chabot said after conceding the race.
It was one of 14 U.S. House seats nationwide held by Republicans but that President Joe Biden would have won under new congressional maps. Democrats were looking to take at least a handful of those Republican-held seats that voted for Biden to around the country.
Chabot, seeking a 14th term in Congress, touted his consistent conservative credentials during the campaign but didn鈥檛 align himself closely with former President Donald Trump.
Kaptur, first elected in 1982, defeated Republican J.R. Majewski after his campaign was derailed by reports that he had misrepresented his military service.
Majewski, a political newcomer, was backed by Trump in a redrawn congressional district considered a political toss-up. He was forced to defend himself in September after The Associated Press reported that he had of his Air Force service, including his story of being a combat veteran who served a tour of duty under 鈥渢ough鈥 circumstances in Afghanistan.
He about his record and said he proudly served his country. But the 春色直播 Republican Campaign Committee canceled TV ads it had booked to support his campaign.
Kaptur, a popular Democrat in her hometown of Toledo, seized on that and other questions about Majewski鈥檚 resume. She branded him as a past devotee of QAnon conspiracy theories who passed by police barricades during last year鈥檚 deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 believe there鈥檚 a time that I served in public life when I have seen the country divided as it is today,鈥 she said. 鈥淭his victory today in this particular district shows that the people, regardless if they鈥檙e Democrat, Republican, independent, can come together. They can come together if we give them good government, if we stay close to them and we don鈥檛 allow certain evil forces to impact their lives.鈥
Kaptur distanced herself from Biden during the campaign, releasing an ad that said she didn鈥檛 work for him. Majewski鈥檚 campaign sought to link Kaptur to the president鈥檚 sinking approval ratings and inflation at every turn while also highlighting his backing from Trump.
Trump鈥檚 influence was front and center in a handful of Ohio鈥檚 congressional elections.
Former Trump administration official Max Miller won a U.S. House seat in Ohio, a victory bolstered by the ex-president鈥檚 endorsement and the exits of two Republican congressmen.
Miller, who defeated Democrat Matthew Diemer, was a clear favorite after his victory in the GOP primary, a win that was set up after U.S. Reps. Bob Gibbs and Anthony Gonzalez abruptly retired.
GOP Rep. Jim Jordan, a fiery conservative who鈥檚 one of Trump鈥檚 closest allies in Congress, won a ninth term.
Other incumbents reelected were Republicans Mike Carey, Warren Davidson, Mike Turner, Brad Wenstrup, Bob Latta, Bill Johnson, Troy Balderson and David Joyce. Democrats Joyce Beatty and Shontel Brown also won.
Republicans previously held a 12-4 majority of Ohio鈥檚 congressional seats, but after Ohio lost one seat in Congress this year that margin will be cut to 10-5 for the GOP.
Democratic state Rep. Rep. Emilia Sykes won a competitive seat, topping a conservative commentator endorsed Trump.
Sykes, a former Ohio House Democratic leader and the daughter of a powerful political family in northeast Ohio, defeated Madison Gesiotto Gilbert, a former Miss Ohio USA who worked on Trump鈥檚 2016 inauguration committee and helped lead Women for Trump during his reelection bid.
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The story has been updated to correct that Gibbs decided to retire this year.
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