TOLEDO, OHIO — Voters in Ohio's 9th Congressional District cast ballots in the state's May 2026 primary elections, with several saying high gas prices were straining their household budgets. The district, which includes Toledo, is rated a toss-up by the Cook Political Report heading into the 2026 midterms and could help determine the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Democrat Marcy Kaptur has held the U.S. House seat for the 9th District since 1983. In the November 2026 election, she will face Republican nominee Derek Merrin, whom she narrowly defeated in the 2024 election. Republicans are seeking to flip the seat under a new Ohio congressional redistricting map enacted in 2025 that is intended to favor the GOP. Republicans dominate statewide politics in Ohio.

Alan Isbell of Toledo spoke on his way to cast his vote in the May 2026 primary. "We were told that it was going to be different," Isbell said.

Elizabeth Day, a Republican voter, said she blamed the war in Iran for high gas prices and has been trying to shop wisely and use coupons where possible. She said she thinks she can handle the strain on her finances until her party finds a way to bring prices down. "I think that they will do their best to get the federal government to bring prices down as much as they can," Day said.

Hallie Tembo said her family has been stocking up on pantry staples like beans and canned fruit due to high food prices. She said the family is reconsidering plans to visit relatives in Cleveland, a roughly two-hour drive from Toledo, because of the cost of fuel. Other Ohio residents said they have had to rethink how they buy groceries and where they travel due to high gas prices.

According to the latest NPR/PBS News/Marist poll, more than eight in ten Americans said prices at the pump are putting a strain on their household budget, and four out of five Republicans said gas prices are hurting their budgets. The poll also found that a strong majority of Americans blamed President Trump for high gas prices.