# Marcy Kaptur

Marcia Carolyn Kaptur (/ˈkæptər/ KAP-tər; born June 17, 1946) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative from Ohio's 9th congressional district. Currently in her 22nd term, she has been a member of Congress since 1983.
A member of the Democratic Party, Kaptur is the longest-serving woman in congressional history (having surpassed Barbara Mikulski in 2023) and the dean of Ohio's congressional delegation.

## Early life and education

Kaptur was born on June 17, 1946, in Toledo, Ohio, the daughter of Anastasia Delores (Rogowski) and Stephen Jacob Kaptur. Her parents were both of Polish descent. Her mother was an automobile union organizer and her family operated a small grocery. Kaptur started volunteering with the Ohio Democratic Party when she was 13.
Kaptur graduated from St. Ursula Academy in 1964 and became the first person in her family to attend college. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1968 and a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Michigan in 1974. She began doctoral studies in urban planning development finance at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1981.

## Early career

Kaptur served on the Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions from 1969 to 1975. She was director of planning for the National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs from 1975 to 1977, founded by Geno Baroni. She later served as a domestic policy advisor during President Jimmy Carter's administration.

## U.S. House of Representatives
### Elections

While at MIT, Kaptur was recruited to run for Congress in 1982 against freshman Republican Ed Weber, who had upset 26-year incumbent Lud Ashley two years earlier. Despite being outspent by almost 3–1, she defeated Weber 58–39%.
In 1984, Kaptur faced a strong challenge from Republican Frank Venner, longtime anchorman and weatherman at WTVG, but defeated him 55–44%, even as Ronald Reagan carried the district. From 1986 to 2002, she won every election with at least 74% of the vote. Since 2016 Kaptur has faced increasingly strong challengers with her winning 56.6% of the vote against challenger J.R. Majewski in 2022.

#### 2006

Kaptur won her 13th term with 74% of the vote.

#### 2008

Kaptur won her 14th term with 74% of the vote.

#### 2010

Shortly after achieving fame during the 2008 election, conservative figure Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher announced that he was considering challenging Kaptur in the 2010 election, but chose not to run. Kaptur was instead challenged by Republican Rich Iott, a Tea Party movement favorite. She was reelected to a 15th term with 59% of the vote, her closest victory since 1984.

#### 2012

For her first three decades in Congress, Kaptur represented a compact district centered around Toledo. Redistricting after the 2010 census extended the 9th district to western Cleveland. The new map put the home of incumbent 10th district congressman Dennis Kucinich into the 9th, so they ran against each other in the Democratic primary. Graham Veysey, a small-business owner from Cleveland, also ran in the primary. Retaining over 60% of her former territory, Kaptur won the primary with 56% of the vote to Kucinich's 40%. In the general election, she won a 16th term against Wurzelbacher and Libertarian Sean Stipe. The reconfigured 9th was no less Democratic than its predecessor, and Kaptur had effectively clinched reelection by defeating Kucinich in the primary.

#### 2014

Kaptur's 2014 opponent was Richard May, a longtime Republican activist from west Cleveland, who beat Lakewood resident Robert C. Horrocks Jr. in the May 6 primary. Kaptur won 68–32%.

#### 2016

Kaptur's 2016 opponent was Donald Larson, who defeated Steven Kraus and Joel Lieske in the Republican primary on March 15. Kaptur won 68–31%.

#### 2020

Kaptur's 2020 opponent was Rob Weber, who defeated Charles W. Barrett, Tim Connors, and Timothy P. Corrigan in the Republican primary on March 17. Kaptur won 63–37%.

#### 2022

Kaptur was seemingly placed in a vulnerable position when redistricting shifted her district to the west in order to take in territory previously in the neighboring heavily Republican 5th district. While Joe Biden carried the old 9th with 59% of the vote, the new 9th would have voted for Donald Trump with 51% of the vote. Despite this, Kaptur easily defeated Republican nominee J.R. Majewski, 56.6% to 43.4%.

#### 2024

Kaptur won an extremely close race against Derek Merrin, who had been endorsed by Donald Trump. At 48.3% to Merrin's 47.6%, this was the first race in which Kaptur did not receive a majority of the votes cast.

### Tenure

In 1996, Ross Perot asked Kaptur to be his vice-presidential running mate. She declined.
In 2016, Kaptur endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders in the Democratic presidential primary, and introduced him at a rally in Toledo. In October, she endorsed the nominee, Hillary Clinton, who had won Ohio and her district in the primary, at a rally in Toledo.
On March 6, 2025, Kaptur was one of ten Democrats in Congress who joined all of their Republican colleagues in voting to censure Democratic congressman Al Green for interrupting President Donald Trump's State of the Union Address.

#### World War II memorial

In 1987, Kaptur introduced the World War II Memorial Act in the House. The bill authorized the American Battle Monuments Commission to establish a World War II memorial. It was not voted on before the end of the session and so failed to be enacted. Kaptur introduced similar legislation twice in 1989 but these bills also failed to become law.
Kaptur introduced legislation for the fourth time in 1993. This time the legislation was voted on and passed in the House. After a companion bill was passed in the United States Senate, President Bill Clinton signed the bill into law.
Kaptur later said that she felt "a great sense of fulfillment" that the memorial was built. "This generation was the most unselfish America has ever seen," she said. "They never asked anybody for anything in return."

#### 2008 economic crisis

Kaptur opposed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, which provided a bailout for U.S. banks. Her opposition to the bailout was highlighted in Michael Moore's 2009 documentary Capitalism: A Love Story.
In 2011, Kaptur introduced H.R. 1489 to restore the Glass–Steagall Act, "To repeal certain provisions of the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act and revive the separation between commercial banking and the securities business, in the manner provided in the Banking Act of 1933, the so-called 'Glass–Steagall Act', and for other purposes." There were 30 co-sponsors.

### Committee assignments

* Committee on Appropriations
** Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development (Ranking member)
** Subcommittee on Defense

### Caucus memberships

* Congressional Arts Caucus
* Congressional Ukrainian Caucus (co-chair)
* Congressional Caucus on Poland
* Climate Solutions Caucus
* Blue Collar Caucus
* Rare Disease Caucus

## Political positions
### Free trade

Kaptur opposes free trade agreements. She helped lead opposition to the North American Free Trade Agreement, permanent normal trade relations for the People's Republic of China, and fast track authority for the president.

### Patent reform

Kaptur opposed the America Invents Act that passed into law and changed the U.S. Patent System. She opposed changing from a "first to invent system" to a "first to file system", saying it hurt small businesses and "Our patent system is the finest in the world... the proposed solutions are special fixes that benefit these few giants at the expense of everyone else."
Kaptur co-sponsored the Restoring America's Leadership in Innovation Act. In order to strengthen inventors' property rights, the bill would remove the administrative review process that allows the public to challenge patent filings' validity; the process exists to prevent misuse of the patent system.

### Gun control

Kaptur voted for H.R. 1808: Assault Weapons Ban of 2022. The legislation would ban semiautomatic rifles, including AR-15s, the most popular rifles in the U.S.

### Foreign affairs

Kaptur co-chairs the Ukrainian Caucus. She has been a vocal supporter of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Kaptur has said Ukraine "voted for her own independence and has been laboring to be free with continued Russian meddling in her country all these decades." Kaptur signed a letter in 2023 advocating for President Biden to give F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
Kaptur voted in 2023 against H.Con.Res. 21, which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.

### Immigration reform

Kaptur was one of 38 Democrats to vote against the DREAM Act in 2010. It passed the House but failed in the Senate. She voted for the DREAM Act in 2021.
Kaptur voted against the Equal Representation Act in 2024. This proposed law would have required that when counting the population of each state to determine the number of U.S. Representatives, noncitizens who are ineligible to vote would be excluded from the count.
In January of 2025, Kaptur was one of 46 House Democrats who joined all Republicans to vote for the Laken Riley Act.
In February of 2025, Kaptur raised concerns about Elon Musk's U.S. citizenship status, questioning his allegiance due to his multiple nationalities. Speaking outside the Capitol, Kaptur remarked, "Mr. Musk has just been here 22 years. And he’s a citizen of three countries. I always ask myself the question, with the damage he’s doing here, when push comes to shove, which country is his loyalty to? South Africa? Canada? Or the United States? And he’s only been a citizen, I’ll say again, 22 years." Kaptur’s remarks quickly drew backlash on social media, with many users criticizing them as nativist rhetoric.

### Abortion

Kaptur holds a 95% rating from NARAL. She supported Roe v. Wade, calling it "the law of the land". She has voted for some proposals to restrict access to abortion and opposed others. In 2007, she was the only member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus to vote against federally funded embryonic stem-cell research. Kaptur voted for the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, an amendment to America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009. She was one of only 16 Democrats to vote for the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act on May 4, 2011. Kaptur also voted to ban partial-birth abortions in 2000 and 2003. She voted against the Child Custody Protection Act in 1999 and the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act in 2005. Kaptur voted against allowing privately funded abortions at overseas military hospitals twice in 1995, as well as in 1997, 1998 and 1999. In 2005, Kaptur voted to lift the ban on abortions at overseas military hospitals.
In 2023, Kaptur voted against the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which would have criminalized failing to provide care for an infant born alive after an abortion attempt.

## Personal life

Kaptur is a Roman Catholic. In her letter to NETWORK Lobby, she wrote: "The Roman Catholic faith is a central pillar of my being, particularly as an American of Polish heritage". She describes her Catholicism as an element of her Polish heritage, stating that the Catholic Church gave her "ancestors worth and hope—during times of bondage, repression, punishment, war, illness, and harrowing economic downturns". Kaptur also expressed her admiration for Catholic social teaching, especially the option for the poor. In 2010, Kaptur withheld her vote on Affordable Care Act until being assured that it would not fund abortion.
Because she mixes political Catholicism with her progressive persona, The Washington Post described her as "an economic populist from America’s heartland with progressive values and a conservative disposition".

## Electoral history

Ohio's 9th congressional district: Results 1982–2010 :
| Year | Democratic | Votes | % | Swing | Republican | Votes | % | Swing | Third parties | Party | Votes | % | Total votes |
| 1982 | Marcy Kaptur | 95,162 | 57.95% | +18.14 | Ed Weber (incumbent) | 64,459 | 39.25% | −16.96 | Susan Skinner | Independent | 1,785 | 1.09% | 164,217 |
| 1982 | Marcy Kaptur | 95,162 | 57.95% | +18.14 | Ed Weber (incumbent) | 64,459 | 39.25% | −16.96 | James Somers | Independent | 1,594 | 0.97% | 164,217 |
| 1982 | Marcy Kaptur | 95,162 | 57.95% | +18.14 | Ed Weber (incumbent) | 64,459 | 39.25% | −16.96 | David Muir | Libertarian | 1,217 | 0.74% | 164,217 |
| 1984 | Marcy Kaptur (incumbent) | 117,985 | 54.90% | −3.05 | Frank Venner | 93,210 | 43.37% | +4.12 | Write-in | | 3,714 | 1.73% | 214,909 |
| 1986 | Marcy Kaptur (incumbent) | 105,646 | 77.52% | +22.62 | Mike Shufeldt | 30,643 | 22.48% | −20.89 | | | | | 136,289 |
| 1988 | Marcy Kaptur (incumbent) | 157,557 | 81.29% | +3.77 | Al Hawkins | 36,183 | 18.67% | −3.81 | Write-in | | 72 | 0.04% | 193,812 |
| 1990 | Marcy Kaptur (incumbent) | 117,681 | 77.69% | −3.60 | Jerry Lammers | 33,791 | 22.31% | +3.64 | | | | | 151,472 |
| 1992 | Marcy Kaptur (incumbent) | 178,879 | 73.58% | −4.11 | Ken Brown | 53,011 | 21.81% | −0.50 | Edward Howard | Independent | 11,162 | 4.59% | 243,102 |
| 1992 | Marcy Kaptur (incumbent) | 178,879 | 73.58% | −4.11 | Ken Brown | 53,011 | 21.81% | −0.50 | Write-in | | 50 | 0.02% | 243,102 |
| 1994 | Marcy Kaptur (incumbent) | 118,120 | 75.34% | +1.76 | Randy Whitman | 38,665 | 24.66% | +2.85 | | | | | 156,785 |
| 1996 | Marcy Kaptur (incumbent) | 170,617 | 77.08% | +1.74 | Randy Whitman | 46,040 | 20.80% | −3.86 | Elizabeth Slotnick | Natural Law | 4,677 | 2.11% | 221,334 |
| 1998 | Marcy Kaptur (incumbent) | 130,793 | 81.18% | +4.10 | Ed Emery | 30,312 | 18.12% | −2.68 | | | | | 161,105 |
| 2000 | Marcy Kaptur (incumbent) | 168,547 | 74.80% | −6.38 | Dwight Bryan | 49,446 | 21.94% | +3.82 | Galen Fries | Libertarian | 4,239 | 1.88% | 225,328 |
| 2000 | Marcy Kaptur (incumbent) | 168,547 | 74.80% | −6.38 | Dwight Bryan | 49,446 | 21.94% | +3.82 | Dennis Slotnick | Natural Law | 3,096 | 1.37% | 225,328 |
| 2002 | Marcy Kaptur (incumbent) | 132,236 | 73.99% | −0.81 | Ed Emery | 46,481 | 26.01% | +4.07 | | | | | 178,717 |
| 2004 | Marcy Kaptur (incumbent) | 205,149 | 68.13% | −5.86 | Larry Kaczala | 95,983 | 31.87% | +5.86 | | | | | 301,132 |
| 2006 | Marcy Kaptur (incumbent) | 153,880 | 73.63% | +5.50 | Bradley Leavitt | 55,119 | 26.37% | −5.50 | | | | | 208,999 |
| 2008 | Marcy Kaptur (incumbent) | 222,054 | 74.37% | +0.74 | Bradley Leavitt | 76,512 | 25.63% | −0.74 | | | | | 298,566 |
| 2010 | Marcy Kaptur (incumbent) | 121,819 | 59.35% | −15.02 | Rich Iott | 83,423 | 40.65% | +15.02 | | | | | 205,242 |
US House election, 2012: Ohio District 9 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Marcy Kaptur (incumbent) | 42,902 | 56.18% |
| | Democratic | Dennis Kucinich (incumbent) | 30,564 | 40.02% |
| | Democratic | Graham Veysey | 2,900 | 3.80% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 76,366 | 100 |
| | Democratic | Marcy Kaptur (incumbent) | 217,775 | 73.04% | +13.69 |
| | Republican | Samuel Wurzelbacher | 68,666 | 23.03% | −17.62 |
| | Libertarian | Sean Stipe | 11,725 | 3.93% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 298,166 | 100 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
US House election, 2014: Ohio District 9 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Marcy Kaptur (incumbent) | 108,870 | 67.74% | −5.30 |
| | Republican | Richard May | 51,704 | 32.17% | +9.14 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 141 | 0.09% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 160,715 | 100% | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
US House election, 2016: Ohio District 9 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Marcy Kaptur (incumbent) | 193,966 | 68.69% | +0.95 |
| | Republican | Donald Larson | 88,427 | 31.31% | −0.86 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 5 | 0.00% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 282,398 | 100% | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
US House election, 2018: Ohio District 9 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Marcy Kaptur (incumbent) | 157,219 | 67.79% | −0.90 |
| | Republican | Steve Kraus | 74,670 | 32.19% | +0.88 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 48 | 0.02% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 231,937 | 100% | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
US House election, 2020: Ohio District 9 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Marcy Kaptur (incumbent) | 190,328 | 63.07% | −4.72 |
| | Republican | Rob Weber | 111,385 | 36.91% | +4.72 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 39 | 0.01% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 301,752 | 100% | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
US House election, 2022: Ohio District 9 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Marcy Kaptur (incumbent) | 150,655 | 56.63% | −6.44 |
| | Republican | J.R. Majewski | 115,362 | 43.37% | +6.46 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 266,017 | 100% | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
US House election, 2024: Ohio District 9 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Marcy Kaptur (incumbent) | 181,098 | 48.27% | −8.36 |
| | Republican | Derek Merrin | 178,716 | 47.63% | +4.26 |
| | Libertarian | Tom Pruss | 15,381 | 4.10% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 375,195 | 100% | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |