Marcy Kaptur

Template:Short description Template:Infobox officeholder Marcia Carolyn Kaptur (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell; born June 17, 1946) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Ohio's 9th congressional district since 1983. A member of the Democratic Party, Kaptur is the longest-serving woman in congressional history and the dean of Ohio's congressional delegation since 2009 when Representative Ralph Regula retired. Her district is located in northwestern Ohio along the southern shore of Lake Erie and includes parts of Toledo and other communities in Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Ottawa, Lucas, Sandusky, Williams, and Wood counties.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Early life and education

Kaptur was born on June 17, 1946, in Toledo, Ohio, to Anastasia Delores (Rogowski) and Stephen Jacob Kaptur.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Both of her parents were of Polish descent. Her paternal grandparents came from the town of Żnin in present-day Poland, while her maternal grandparents, the Rogowskis, were from the area of Polonne, now located in Ukraine's Khmelnytskyi Oblast.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Her family ran a small grocery store in Rossford, and her mother was an automobile union organizer.<ref name=":0" /> Kaptur became involved in politics at an early age, volunteering with the Ohio Democratic Party when she was 13.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite book</ref>

She graduated from St. Ursula Academy, an all-girls Catholic preparatory school, in 1964<ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref> and was the first person in her family to attend college.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite news</ref> She received her undergraduate degree in history from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1968<ref name=":0" /> and a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Michigan in 1974.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She began doctoral studies in urban planning development finance at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1981.<ref name=":5">Template:Cite book</ref>

Early career

Kaptur began her career in urban planning, working as an urban planner on the Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions from 1969 to 1975.<ref name=":4" /> During this time period, she stayed active in local Democratic politics, volunteering for Hubert Humphrey’s 1968 presidential campaign and later helping George McGovern carry Lucas County in the 1972 presidential election, one of only two counties in Ohio to do so.<ref name=":6" />

In 1975, she became director of planning for the National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs, a Washington-based organization founded by Catholic priest Geno Baroni, where she worked until 1977.<ref name=":6">Template:Cite web</ref> Afterwards, she joined the Carter administration as a domestic policy advisor on urban affairs and helped advance several housing and neighborhood revitalization bills through Congress.<ref name=":3" /> Following her time in Washington D.C., Kaptur went to Massachusetts to do graduate work.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

Kaptur's portrait from the 98th Congress, 1983

In 1982, while pursuing her doctorate degree, Kaptur was recruited by local Democratic leaders to run for Congress in Ohio's 9th district in the midterm elections.<ref name=":5" /> The seat was held by freshman Republican Ed Weber, who had unseated 26-year incumbent Lud Ashley two years earlier.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Initially considered a long shot, Kaptur entered the race after encouragement from Geno Baroni<ref name=":0" /> and party officials who had struggled to find a viable challenger.<ref name=":3" />

Kaptur returned to Ohio from Massachusetts, withdrawing from her doctorate program and driving through a snowstorm to begin campaigning.<ref name=":6" /> Her campaign gained attention for its grassroots style, including raising $10,000 through bake sales,<ref name=":6" /> a strategy that became a hallmark of her early political efforts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Amid a national recession during President Reagan's first term and rising unemployment in Lucas County,<ref name=":6" /> Kaptur focused her campaign on local economic decline and criticized Weber's support for the free trade policies of the Reagan Administration.<ref name=":3" /> She connected with working-class voters by emphasizing economic populism and cultural familiarity, once serving kielbasa made from her father's recipe at a rally.<ref name=":6" />

Despite receiving little support from the national Democratic Party, which had largely written off the district, Kaptur benefited from encouragement by Representatives Shirley Chisholm and Mary Rose Oakar.<ref name=":1" /> Though outspent nearly three to one,<ref name=":0" /> she won the election with 58% of the vote.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Kaptur later credited her victory to her strong ties to the local community. After the election, she recalled how the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which had provided no support during the race, sent her a belated $5,000 contribution.<ref name=":1" />

In 1984 for her re-election, Kaptur faced a strong challenge from Republican Frank Venner, a longtime news anchor at WTVG,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> but defeated him 55–44%,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> even as Ronald Reagan carried the district. From 1986 to 2002, she won every election with at least 74% of the vote.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> She won her 12th term in 2004 with 68% of the vote, and again secured 74% in both 2006 and 2008.<ref name=":0" />

2010s

Ohio's 9th district from 2013 to 2023

Kaptur's electoral margins began to narrow in the 2010s, reflecting growing political competitiveness in the region. 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,<ref name="ANI">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Fox News">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="The Daily Telegraph">Template:Cite news</ref> 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,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> her closest victory since 1984.<ref name=":0" />

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 for the 2012 elections 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%.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the general election, she won a 16th term against Wurzelbacher and Libertarian Sean Stipe with of the vote.<ref name="marcy kaptur coasts">Template:Cite news</ref> The reconfigured 9th was no less Democratic than its predecessor, and Kaptur had effectively clinched reelection by defeating Kucinich in the primary.

Kaptur being sworn into the 115th U.S. Congress in 2017

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Kaptur won 68–32%.<ref name=":0" /> 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%.<ref name=":0" />

2020s

In the 2020s, Kaptur's district shifted from a reliably Democratic seat to a swing district. Her 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%.

Following the 2020 census, redistricting shifted the 9th district westward, incorporating much of the strongly Republican 5th district. While President Joe Biden carried the old district with 59% of the vote, the new district would have narrowly favored Donald Trump with 51%. Despite the unfavorable shift, Kaptur defeated Republican nominee J.R. Majewski in 2022 by a comfortable margin of 56.6% to 43.4%.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2024, she faced an extremely close race against state representative Derek Merrin, who was endorsed by Trump.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Kaptur won reelection by less than one percentage point at 48.3% to Merrin's 47.6%,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> which marked the first time in her political career that she failed to secure a majority of the vote.<ref name=":0" />

Tenure

Kaptur took office on January 3, 1983.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> At the time, she became the first woman to represent Ohio's 9th congressional district<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and was one of 24 women serving in Congress.<ref name=":7">Template:Cite web</ref> In her first term, she was appointed to the Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs Committee as well as the Veterans’ Affairs Committee.<ref name=":2" /> During the 1980s, she developed a good working relationship with Speaker Jim Wright, who later appointed her as vice chair of a task force on trade and to the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. In her fourth term, she gained a position on the Budget Committee and afterwards secured a seat on the Appropriations Committee.<ref name=":2" />

World War II Memorial at dusk

In 1987, Kaptur introduced the World War II Memorial Act in the House.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1993, Kaptur strongly opposed the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).<ref name=":6" /> She said that the trade agreement would result in widespread job losses as companies outsourced work to lower-wage Mexico. Following NAFTA, she also objected to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995.<ref name=":2" /> Kaptur expressed concern that free trade agreements would undermine U.S. economic interests and erode international standards on labor rights, environmental protection, and consumer safety. Despite her efforts, including working with labor unions to block NAFTA and the WTO agreement, both measures passed.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite book</ref> Her prominent role in trade policy debates attracted national attention, and in 1996, independent presidential candidate Ross Perot invited her to join his election campaign as a vice-presidential candidate for the 1996 presidential election. She declined the offer.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Kaptur speaks at the dedication of a highway project that she helped secure funding for in Sandusky, 2013

Kaptur was a vocal critic of Wall Street and its role in the 2008 financial crisis.<ref name=":8">Template:Cite news</ref> She opposed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, which authorized a federal bailout of major U.S. banks.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> Her position, along with her broader criticism of the financial industry, was featured in Michael Moore’s 2009 documentary Capitalism: A Love Story.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 2011, Kaptur introduced H.R. 1489, a bill aimed at restoring key provisions of the Glass–Steagall Act (1933) by repealing parts of the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act (1999) and restoring the separation between commercial banking and securities trading. The bill received support from 30 co-sponsors.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the 2000s, Kaptur sought to steer the Democratic Party towards a greater focus on its working-class base and sought a leadership role by emphasizing her Midwestern "heartland" roots in contrast to the party's coastal leadership. In 2002, she challenged Representative Nancy Pelosi for the position of House Democratic leader, using her candidacy to draw attention to what she described as the party's neglect of its "non-money wing." She withdrew before a vote was taken. In 2008, Kaptur ran for vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus, but lost to Representative Xavier Becerra, a close Pelosi ally. After Democrats lost their House majority in the 2010 midterm elections, Kaptur was among those who called for a delay in leadership elections—an effort some interpreted as encouraging Pelosi to step aside.<ref name=":8" /> Reflecting on her differences with Pelosi years later, Kaptur criticized the Democratic leader's support for NAFTA, saying, "That’s where the real knife was put in the flesh."<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In 2016, Kaptur endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders in the Democratic presidential primary and introduced him at a rally in Toledo.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In October, she endorsed the nominee, Hillary Clinton, who had won Ohio and her district in the primary.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2018, Kaptur became the longest-serving woman in the House of Representatives,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and then in 2023, she became the longest-serving woman in Congress overall.<ref name=":7" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Committee assignments

Kaptur on the Appropriations Committee

For the 119th Congress:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• Committee on Appropriations
  • Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on Defense
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies (ranking member)
• Committee on the Budget

Caucus memberships

• Blue Collar Caucus
• Congressional Caucus on Poland (co-chair)
• Congressional Ukrainian Caucus (co-chair)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Congressional Ukraine Caucus<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Political positions

Free trade

Kaptur discusses the negative effects of free trade agreements on the country's trade deficit, 2017

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.<ref name=":2" />

Patent reform

Kaptur opposed the America Invents Act, which overhauled the U.S. patent system by shifting from a "first to invent" to a "first to file" framework.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She argued that the change hurt small businesses, stating, "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."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

She later co-sponsored the Restoring America's Leadership in Innovation Act, which aimed to strengthen inventors’ property rights. The bill proposed eliminating the administrative review process that allows the public to challenge the validity of patents, a process originally designed to prevent misuse of the patent system.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Immigration reform

Kaptur was one of 38 Democrats to vote against the DREAM Act in 2010. Even though the bill passed the House, it ultimately failed in the Senate.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She later supported the measure, voting in favor of the DREAM Act in 2021.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Kaptur voted against the Equal Representation Act in 2024, which proposed excluding noncitizens ineligible to vote from the population counts used to determine congressional representation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In February 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."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Kaptur's remarks quickly drew backlash on social media, with many users criticizing them as nativist rhetoric.

Foreign affairs

Kaptur speaks in support of Ukrainians affected by the Russo-Ukrainian war, 2023

Kaptur serves as co-chair of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus and has been a vocal supporter for Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War. She has expressed support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and stated that the country "voted for her own independence and has been laboring to be free with continued Russian meddling in her country all these decades."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2023, Kaptur signed a letter urging President Joe Biden to provide F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Abortion

Kaptur supported Roe v. Wade, calling it "the law of the land,"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but describes herself as neither strictly pro-choice nor pro-life.<ref name=":3" /> She opposes federal funding for abortions and has backed several restrictions,<ref name=":3" /> including bans on so-called partial-birth abortions in 2000<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and 2003,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the Stupak-Pitts Amendment in 2009,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act in 2011.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She voted multiple times in the 1990s against allowing privately funded abortions at overseas military hospitals,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> though she supported lifting the ban in 2005.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Her record on other abortion-related legislation has varied. She voted against the Child Custody Protection Act (1999),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (2005),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (2023).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2007, she voted against federally funded embryonic stem-cell research.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2010, she withheld support for the Affordable Care Act until assured it would not provide funding for abortions.<ref name="gray_1">Template:Cite news</ref> She supports the requirement that Medicaid provide coverage for abortions in cases of rape, incest, or life endangerment.<ref name=":3" />

Personal life

Kaptur is a Roman Catholic and has described her faith as a core part of her identity, particularly as an American of Polish heritage.<ref name="network_lobby">Template:Cite web</ref> In a letter to Network Lobby, she wrote that Catholicism gave her ancestors "worth and hope—during times of bondage, repression, punishment, war, illness, and harrowing economic downturns."<ref name="network_lobby" /> She has also expressed admiration for Catholic social teaching, especially the option for the poor. Blending her religious beliefs with progressive politics, The Washington Post described her as "an economic populist from America’s heartland with progressive values and a conservative disposition."<ref name="gray_1" />

Electoral history

Template:S-start |+ Template:Ushr: Results 1982–2010 ! Year ! ! Democratic ! Votes ! % ! Swing ! Republican ! Votes ! % ! Swing ! Third parties ! Party ! Votes ! % ! Total votes |- |rowspan=3|1982 |rowspan=3|<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |rowspan=3 Template:Party shading/Democratic |Marcy Kaptur |rowspan=3|95,162 |rowspan=3|57.95% |rowspan=3| +18.14 |rowspan=3 Template:Party shading/Republican |Ed Weber
(incumbent) |rowspan=3|64,459 |rowspan=3|39.25% |rowspan=3| −16.96 |Template:Party shading/Independent |Susan Skinner |Independent |1,785 |1.09% |rowspan=3|164,217 |- |Template:Party shading/Independent |James Somers |Independent |1,594 |0.97% |- |Template:Party shading/Libertarian |David Muir |Libertarian |1,217 |0.74% |- |1984 |<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |Template:Party shading/Democratic |Marcy Kaptur
(incumbent) |117,985 |54.90% | −3.05 |Template:Party shading/Republican |Frank Venner |93,210 |43.37% | +4.12 |Template:Party shading/Others |Write-in | |3,714 |1.73% |214,909 |- |1986 |<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |Template:Party shading/Democratic |Marcy Kaptur
(incumbent) |105,646 |77.52% | +22.62 |Template:Party shading/Republican |Mike Shufeldt |30,643 |22.48% | −20.89 | | | | |136,289 |- |1988 |<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |Template:Party shading/Democratic |Marcy Kaptur
(incumbent) |157,557 |81.29% | +3.77 |Template:Party shading/Republican |Al Hawkins |36,183 |18.67% | −3.81 |Template:Party shading/Others |Write-in | |72 |0.04% |193,812 |- |1990 |<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |Template:Party shading/Democratic |Marcy Kaptur
(incumbent) |117,681 |77.69% | −3.60 |Template:Party shading/Republican |Jerry Lammers |33,791 |22.31% | +3.64 | | | | |151,472 |- |rowspan=2|1992 |rowspan=2|<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |rowspan=2 Template:Party shading/Democratic |Marcy Kaptur
(incumbent) |rowspan=2|178,879 |rowspan=2|73.58% |rowspan=2| −4.11 |rowspan=2 Template:Party shading/Republican |Ken Brown |rowspan=2|53,011 |rowspan=2|21.81% |rowspan=2| −0.50 |Template:Party shading/Independent |Edward Howard |Independent |11,162 |4.59% |rowspan=2|243,102 |- |Template:Party shading/Others |Write-in | |50 |0.02% |- |1994 |<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |Template:Party shading/Democratic |Marcy Kaptur
(incumbent) |118,120 |75.34% | +1.76 |Template:Party shading/Republican |Randy Whitman |38,665 |24.66% | +2.85 | | | | |156,785 |- |1996 |<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |Template:Party shading/Democratic |Marcy Kaptur
(incumbent) |170,617 |77.08% | +1.74 |Template:Party shading/Republican |Randy Whitman |46,040 |20.80% | −3.86 |Template:Party shading/Natural Law | Elizabeth Slotnick |Natural Law |4,677 |2.11% |221,334 |- |1998 |<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |Template:Party shading/Democratic |Marcy Kaptur
(incumbent) |130,793 |81.18% | +4.10 |Template:Party shading/Republican |Ed Emery |30,312 |18.12% | −2.68 | | | | |161,105 |- |rowspan=2|2000 |rowspan=2|<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |rowspan=2 Template:Party shading/Democratic |Marcy Kaptur
(incumbent) |rowspan=2|168,547 |rowspan=2|74.80% |rowspan=2| −6.38 |rowspan=2 Template:Party shading/Republican |Dwight Bryan |rowspan=2|49,446 |rowspan=2|21.94% |rowspan=2| +3.82 |Template:Party shading/Libertarian |Galen Fries |Libertarian |4,239 |1.88% |rowspan=2|225,328 |- |Template:Party shading/Natural Law | Dennis Slotnick |Natural Law |3,096 |1.37% |- |2002 |<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |Template:Party shading/Democratic |Marcy Kaptur
(incumbent) |132,236 |73.99% | −0.81 |Template:Party shading/Republican |Ed Emery |46,481 |26.01% | +4.07 | | | | |178,717 |- |2004 |<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |Template:Party shading/Democratic |Marcy Kaptur
(incumbent) |205,149 |68.13% | −5.86 |Template:Party shading/Republican |Larry Kaczala |95,983 |31.87% | +5.86 | | | | |301,132 |- |2006 |<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |Template:Party shading/Democratic |Marcy Kaptur
(incumbent) |153,880 |73.63% | +5.50 |Template:Party shading/Republican |Bradley Leavitt |55,119 |26.37% | −5.50 | | | | |208,999 |- |2008 |<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |Template:Party shading/Democratic |Marcy Kaptur
(incumbent) |222,054 |74.37% | +0.74 |Template:Party shading/Republican |Bradley Leavitt |76,512 |25.63% | −0.74 | | | | |298,566 |- |2010 |<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |Template:Party shading/Democratic |Marcy Kaptur
(incumbent) |121,819 |59.35% | −15.02 |Template:Party shading/Republican |Rich Iott |83,423 |40.65% | +15.02 | | | | |205,242 Template:S-end

See also

• Ohio's 9th congressional district
• List of United States representatives from Ohio
• National World War II Memorial
• Women in the United States House of Representatives

External links

• Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur official U.S. House website
• Marcy Kaptur for Congress

• Template:C-SPAN

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