TOLEDO, OHIO — Rep. Marcy Kaptur was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries following a hit-and-run car crash on Sunday morning in Toledo, Ohio. The incident occurred while the congresswoman was traveling to a church service, interrupting her summer recess from the U.S. House of Representatives.

Toledo police said officers responded to the area of Detroit Avenue and Central Avenue for a "hit-skip crash" just before 11 a.m. local time. When police responded to the scene at the intersection of Detroit and Central Avenues in Toledo at approximately 10:48 a.m. Kaptur and one other were transported to a nearby hospital.

"This morning Congresswoman Kaptur was a passenger in a vehicle on her way to a church service when the car she was traveling in was struck. She is active, alert, and being treated for non-life threatening injuries," Ben Kamens, a spokesperson for Kaptur, said in a statement. The office also confirmed that she is active, alert, and being treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Sgt. Mohamad Nasser, a spokesperson for the Toledo Police Department, said two people were transported to the hospital after the "hit-skip crash" and that a police investigation was still ongoing. A witness told CBS affiliate WTOL 11 that the other driver was picked up by another vehicle and fled the scene shortly after the crash.

Kamens provided further details regarding the congresswoman's condition and her response to the incident. "Congresswoman Kaptur is thankful for the quick actions of first responders from Toledo Police and Fire Departments who arrived promptly on scene, and the medical professionals helping to take care of those involved in the crash. She expressed her deep gratitude to the hundreds of constituents who have reached out and looks forward to returning to a full schedule soon."

Kaptur is 80 years old and has been in the U.S. House of Representatives for 43 years. This tenure represents 53.8% of her life. She first won election to her seat in Ohio’s 9th District in 1982 and was sworn in the following year. Since 1983, she has held her seat in Ohio's 9th Congressional District, which includes parts of Toledo and stretches across north-western Ohio along the southern shore of Lake Erie.

Kaptur is the longest-serving woman in the House of Representatives and in Congress overall. She is also the fourth-longest serving member of the House. Additionally, she is the first woman to serve as ranking member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development.

Before becoming an elected politician, Kaptur worked in urban planning and advised Jimmy Carter’s administration. She was born in Toledo.

The House is on its summer recess so Kaptur was not expected in Washington this week. Her district has shown shifting political trends in recent presidential elections. President Donald Trump won Kaptur’s district in 2020 and 2024.

Kaptur is running for re-election against former state Rep. Derek Merrin. Merrin is a Republican and a former member of the Ohio legislature. He is the Republican nominee in Ohio's 9th district in the 2026 election, facing a rematch with Kaptur.

The previous contest between the two candidates was closely decided. Merrin lost to Kaptur in 2024 by just under 2,400 votes. In 2024, Kaptur won by just more than the 0.5% margin that would have triggered an automatic recount, with a libertarian candidate snagging about 4% of the vote.

This victory margin was less than 1 percentage point. The difference of 0.5% of 2,400 votes is 12 votes.

The hospitalization of Rep. Marcy Kaptur draws attention to the status of the longest-serving woman in Congress during an active election cycle. With 43 years of service, Kaptur holds a significant institutional role as the fourth-longest serving member of the House and the first woman to rank on the Energy and Water Development appropriations subcommittee. Her absence from the campaign trail, even during a recess, occurs as she prepares for a rematch against Derek Merrin, who nearly unseated her in 2024.

The narrow margin of the 2024 election, where Kaptur won by less than 1 percentage point, reflects the competitive nature of Ohio's 9th District. This district, which President Donald Trump carried in both 2020 and 2024, remains a focal point for national political observers. The ongoing police investigation into the hit-and-run crash adds uncertainty to the immediate future of the race, as Kaptur recovers from non-life-threatening injuries. The incident shows the personal risks faced by public figures even outside of formal legislative duties.

Why It Matters

As the longest-serving woman in Congress and a key ranking member on an appropriations subcommittee, Kaptur's hospitalization occurs during a tight re-election cycle. Her 2024 victory margin was less than 1 percentage point against Republican Derek Merrin, making her physical availability on the campaign trail significant for the upcoming contest in Ohio's 9th District.