Republicans fill out the House battlefield with challengers in key districts

2026 ElectionRepublicans fill out the House battlefield with challengers in key districtsFormer state Rep. Derek Merrin will face Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur, NBC News projects, in an Ohio district Trump carried in 2024.Derek Merrin, Republican candidate for Ohio's 9th Congressional District, in Holland, Ohio, in 2024. Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 5, 2026, 9:30 PM EDTBy Ben KamisarThe coming November battle for control of the House is coming into focus in Tuesday’s primaries, as Republicans pick nominees to challenge Democratic incumbents in Ohio and Indiana.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.GOP voters nominated former state Rep. Derek Merrin, setting up a rematch with Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur in Ohio’s 9th District — on paper, a district that looks like one of the GOP's best chances to flip a Democratic-held seat this year.For years, Republicans have unsuccessfully tried to knock off Kaptur in the Republican-leaning seat. And they were able to make her district even redder as part of a redistricting compromise last year. But candidates have repeatedly stumbled against Kaptur, who has shown resilience on the campaign trail throughout a long career. Democrats need to net just three seats to retake control of the House — and a number of GOP districts look vulnerable. Any opportunity for Republicans to go on offense and defeat a Democratic incumbent would be critical to their chances of holding onto the majority. Republicans also scored an early win last year with that redistricting compromise, which shifted Ohio's 1st District to one President Donald Trump carried by 3 points in 2024. On Tuesday, Republicans anointed Trump-backed Eric Conroy, an Air Force veteran who also worked at the CIA, as their nominee to run against Rep. Greg Landsman in the Cincinnati area. While Republicans improved their odds in two seats in that redistricting co...