Former ICE deputy director loses GOP congressional primary in Ohio
Madison Sheahan’s defeat suggests ICE’s hard-line immigration role has become a liability for Republicans, after a campaign focused on her enforcement record.
- On Tuesday, Madison Sheahan lost the Republican primary in Ohio's 9th district to former state representative Derek Merrin, signaling potential backlash against her ICE background.
- During a debate last month, Republican candidate Alea Nadeem said ICE had become a political liability for Republicans, noting the agency 'divides the country' and frequently surfaces when voters are contacted.
- Sheahan touted her work with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and as an aide to Department of Homeland Security head Kristi Noem, though some ICE officials reportedly called her a "fish cop."
- Disapproval of ICE has risen following chaotic enforcement operations in Minnesota, and Sheahan's defeat may signal how unpopular the agency has become during President Donald Trump's second term.
- Merrin's victory sets up a 2026 rematch against Marcy Kaptur in a district redrawn by Ohio Republicans last year, giving the Republican nominee friendlier terrain for the general election.
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10 Articles
Former ICE official falls short in GOP House primary in Ohio
A former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official who quit her job with the agency to run for Congress came up short Tuesday in her bid to secure the GOP nomination for a northwest Ohio-based seat in the U.S. House. Madison Sheahan, 29, finished third among a crowded Republican field in Tuesday’s primary, earning roughly…
Republican ICE Firebrand Madison Sheahan Defeated in Ohio Race Seen as Test of Trump's Influence
Madison Sheahan, a former top Immigration and Customs Enforcement 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.
Former ICE official loses GOP primary in key battleground district Republicans are hoping to flip
Former ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan finished third in Ohio's 9th District GOP primary, losing to former state Rep. Derek Merrin in a race focused on economic issues.
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