Derek Merrin | |
|---|---|
| Member of theOhio House of Representatives | |
| In office August 2, 2016 – January 3, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Barbara Sears |
| Succeeded by | Elgin Rogers Jr. |
| Constituency | 47th district (2016–2023) 42nd district (2023–2025) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Derek Scott Merrin (1986-01-04)January 4, 1986 (age 39) Smithtown, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Owens Community College University of Toledo (BA) Bowling Green State University (MPA) |
Derek Scott Merrin[1] (born January 4, 1986) is an American politician who previously served as the state representative for the 42nd District of theOhio House of Representatives. He is aRepublican. He was theRepublican nominee forOhio's 9th congressional district in2024, where he was narrowly defeated by incumbentMarcy Kaptur.
Merrin was born inSmithtown, New York onLong Island, and moved toWaterville, Ohio, with his family when he was thirteen years old.[2] His father, Russ Merrin, was a public-school teacher and pastored Monclova Road Baptist Church for twenty-three years. Merrin's mother, Norma, was a registered nurse. Merrin is a graduate ofMonclova Christian Academy. In addition, Merrin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from theUniversity of Toledo and a Master of Public Administration degree fromBowling Green State University. He attendedOwens Community College before transferring to UT.[3]
Merrin was elected to the Waterville City Council, a city of just over 6,000 people, at the age of nineteen.[4] Two years later, he was elected Mayor. Along with his time in public office, Merrin previously worked forOhio AuditorDave Yost.[5] In 2012 he was named 'Thirty Conservatives Under Thirty' by Red Alert Politics.[6]
With RepresentativeBarbara Sears term-limited in 2016, Merrin entered the race to succeed her.[7] He won a three-way primary against Republicans Vicki Donovan-Lyle and Kevin Haddad, with over 45% of the vote.[8]
Sears resigned from the seat before the end of her term to take a position in the administration ofOhio GovernorJohn Kasich.[9] As the winner of the Republican primary, Ohio House Republicans led bySpeaker of the HouseCliff Rosenberger appointed Merrin to serve the remainder of Sears' term.[10] He was sworn into office on August 2, 2016,[11] and won the ensuing general election over Democrat Lauri Cooper.Merrin was re-elected in 2018 and 2020, with nearly 60% of the vote each time. Following re-districting, Merrin's district was made substantially more Democratic, losing conservative western Lucas County while adding parts of the city of Toledo and inner ring suburbs.[12] Despite this, Merrin carried the Democrat-leaning (D+2) 47th House District by nearly eight points, 53.9%-46.1% over Democrat Erika White.[13]
In 2022, Merrin lost the Speaker election toJason Stephens, who had bipartisan support, by 54 to 43 votes.[14]