Madison Sheahan, a former top Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official backed by allies of President Donald Trump, lost a closely watched Republican congressional primary in Ohio on Tuesday, dealing a setback to one of the GOP's most visible immigration-focused candidates ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Sheahan, who served as deputy director of ICE under the Trump administration, failed to secure the Republican nomination in Ohio's 9th Congressional District, according to projections from multiple media outlets. Former Ohio state Rep. Derek Merrin won the primary and will now face longtime Democratic incumbent Marcy Kaptur in one of the most competitive House races in the country.
