COLUMBUS, Ohio — Republican state Sen. Theresa Gavarone filed her intent to run for Ohio's 9th Congressional District, for the seat currently held by Democrat Marcy Kaptur.
Gavarone, 55, joins two other Republicans who have also signaled their intent to run: J.R. Majewski of Port Clinton and Madison Gesiotto Gilbert, a Canton lawyer who was the former Miss Ohio USA in 2014.
Gavarone, of Bowling Green, started out as a BG council member, then served in the state House from 2016-2019, when she began serving in the Ohio Senate.
After telling WTOL 11 on Monday to expect a big announcement soon, she officially announced her candidacy on Tuesday.
"After a lot thought and encouragement from my family and countless constituents, I have decided to seek the Republican nomination for Ohio’s 9th Congressional District,” Gavarone said in a statement. “For the past four decades, Marcy Kaptur has occupied this seat in Congress, but has delivered nothing except runaway inflation driven by unprecedented government spending. Northwest and Northern Ohio families need a representative who works for them, not for Nancy Pelosi and the radical left. I am running for Congress to deliver real, conservative results for families across the 9th District.”
Her candidate statement gives an address of Huron, Ohio, with a campaign committee address of Columbus.
A new face and a fresh outlook are what Gavarone says is needed on Capitol Hill and she thinks she fits the bill.
"The direction that we're heading right now is really scary and it's controlled at the presidential level, congressional level, by the Democrats. I think we need to really look in a new direction," she said.
The state senator feels her potential opponent has not done what needs to be done and if voters agree, she wants to make changes that have a direct impact on the people she'd represent.
"I think it's really important that we work on the economy, that we reduce inflation, gas prices, look at policies that are going to make a real difference to the people in our area," Gavarone said.
Gavarone's announcement comes just a few weeks after Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine approved a new congressional map.
The newly redrawn 9th Congressional District now more greatly favors Republicans, and Gavarone had a hand in the creation of the new maps, as co-chairman of the local Government and Elections Committee, plus approving the map on the Senate floor.
The new map of the 9th District puts Lucas, Ottawa, Erie, Defiance, Henry, Fulton, Sandusky and Williams counties together, as well as part of northern Wood County.
WTOL 11 reached out to Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur for a response on the announcement and the new maps. Her reelection team sent us this statement:
"While Columbus politicians game the system and pick their voters, Congresswoman Kaptur remains focused on bringing infrastructure dollars home, securing a clean energy future for Ohio, and creating the high-wage jobs Ohioans deserve".
Kaptur, 75, has represented the district since 1983 and is a Toledo native, graduating local from St. Ursula Academy. The previous iteration of the 9th Congressional District stretched from Cleveland to Toledo and was oftentimes referred to as "The Snake on the Lake" for its layout.
Kaptur is the longest-serving woman in the history of the U.S. House of Representatives and is among the most senior members of Congress.