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Swiss man tests positive for hantavirus after returning from cruise linked to deadly outbreak
A Swiss man who returned from a cruise linked to a deadly hantavirus outbreak has tested positive and been isolated, as health officials say the strain involved can spread between people in rare cases — though the overall risk remains low.
Health authorities in Switzerland confirmed the man recently traveled aboard the MV Hondius, the cruise ship at the center of an outbreak that has already killed three passengers and sickened several others.
Swiss health officials said the man sought medical care after developing symptoms and was immediately placed in isolation. His wife, who traveled with him, is self-isolating but has not shown symptoms.
The officials confirmed his case involves the Andes strain of hantavirus.
RARE HANTAVIRUS HUMAN-TO-HUMAN TRANSMISSION SUSPECTED ON LUXURY CRUISE SHIP WHERE 3 HAVE DIED
The World Health Organization said the Andes strain is a rare form of hantavirus that can spread between humans through close contact — unlike most hantavirus infections, which are typically linked to exposure to rodent droppings.
South African health authorities said they also identified the Andes strain in two other passengers who were on the ship.
The outbreak left the Dutch-flagged cruise ship stranded off the coast of Cape Verde, with nearly 150 passengers and crew on board as authorities scramble to contain the situation.
CDC REPORTS FIRST CRUISE NOROVIRUS OUTBREAK THIS YEAR, AS NEARLY 90 PEOPLE ARE INFECTED
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday that three suspected cases were evacuated from the vessel and are being transported to the Netherlands for treatment.
"At this stage, the overall public health risk remains low," Tedros said.
Authorities stress that while the Andes strain can spread person-to-person, transmission remains uncommon and typically requires close, prolonged contact.
Health officials have launched monitoring efforts for passengers both on board and those who have already disembarked, coordinating across multiple countries as the investigation continues.
WHAT IS HANTAVIRUS, THE CAUSE OF GENE HACKMAN’S WIFE’S DEATH?
The ship departed Argentina on April 1 and was scheduled to travel through the Southern Atlantic, including stops in Antarctica, before the outbreak disrupted its itinerary.
Spain has agreed to receive the vessel in the Canary Islands, though local officials have raised concerns about potential risk to residents.
Hantavirus infections are rare but can be severe, with symptoms ranging from fever and fatigue to serious respiratory illness.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Blake Lively's Met Gala stunt after Justin Baldoni settlement was a 'deliberately calculated tactic': experts
Blake Lively’s high-profile Met Gala appearance just hours after settling her lawsuit with Justin Baldoni wasn’t just a red carpet walk.
The "Gossip Girl" star’s return to the spotlight came with intention, arriving at the fashion world’s biggest night shortly after announcing the legal settlement. To some observers, the timing alone spoke volumes. "The move was more likely a calculated attempt to reclaim control of a narrative she had lost," an industry insider noted, framing the appearance as something far more strategic than a simple night out.
Lively leaned into the moment with a look designed to turn heads — an archival 2006 Atelier Versace gown in soft watercolor tones. But it was the personal details that added another layer to her message. Clutching a purse adorned with artwork created by her four children, she offered a glimpse into the meaning behind the accessory during Vogue’s livestream.
"My kids each painted a watercolor painting. Each of my four kids did this, so I have them with me, because I'm shy too, so I just like to have the kids with me," Lively shared. "Isn't that special? I probably could have fit them under my dress, to be honest. I should have snuck them under there."
BLAKE LIVELY AND JUSTIN BALDONI REACH A SETTLEMENT IN 'IT ENDS WITH US' RETALIATION LAWSUIT
Still, beyond the sentimentality, branding experts say the Met Gala appearance itself carried a deeper purpose. "Two things can be true at once: clearly she is trying to take control of a narrative that she lost a year ago; and it was a deliberately calculated tactic in order to achieve that exact outcome," said Doug Eldridge, founder of Achilles PR.
According to Eldridge, Lively’s presence signaled more than a comeback — it was a statement.
"Lively attended, not just to ‘get her face in the place,’ but to send a subtle, unspoken message: I’m here because I won; the battle is over, and I am ready to reclaim my title and all the amenities that go along with it."
Other industry insiders echoed that sentiment, pointing to the symbolism of both her timing and the setting itself.
"Blake Lively walking onto the Met Gala carpet just hours after the settlement news sends one very clear message — she is not hiding," Kelcey Kintner, Senior VP of crisis management firm Red Banyan PR, told Fox News Digital. "And honestly, the Met Gala is probably the most Blake Lively place possible for her to make that point. She has always been a fashion favorite, so this was familiar territory for her. It was a way to remind people, ‘I’m still here, I still know how to own a red carpet, and I’m moving forward.'"
But how that message is received ultimately depends on the audience.
"That said, perception is what matters, and some audiences may still view the appearance as overly staged given the proximity to the news, while others will see it as confidence and closure," Steve Honig, of The Honig Company, LLC, explained to Fox News Digital. "She is a talented actress, and over time that kind of credibility tends to transcend controversy. Her next move should be measured and restrained, focusing on her work and allowing audience validation to help her move forward. Her brand can definitely recover, but only if she shows consistency and authenticity over time."
For now, experts said restraint will be key. Lively's next move should be to "simply not overdo it," Kintner advised.
"She should let the dress, the photos and the appearance do the talking for now," the PR expert explained. "The more she explains, the more she risks pulling everyone back into the drama. A few forward-looking comments down the road are fine, but she does not need a full media tour about this closure. Sometimes the smartest PR move is knowing when to stop talking about an issue."
BLAKE LIVELY, JUSTIN BALDONI CLASH OVER INTIMATE SCENES FUELING 'IT ENDS WITH US' LAWSUITS
Lively and Baldoni announced they had settled their nearly two-year legal battle in a joint statement shared Monday. The "It Ends with Us" stars were set to face off in court on May 18.
A federal judge had allowed Lively's retaliation claims to move forward in the high-profile Hollywood lawsuit — highlighting what could be considered a coordinated effort by powerful insiders to manipulate public opinion and destroy the actress' reputation.
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However, Judge Lewis J. Liman tossed the majority of Lively's allegations against Baldoni, including the sexual harassment and defamation accusations. The judge's ruling dramatically narrowed the case to focus only on the actress' retaliation claims and a breach of contract claim weeks before the trial was set to begin.
Whether a calculated move or not, Lively's Met Gala appearance was "brilliantly executed."
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"For the last 18 months, the focus — and increasingly, the scrutiny — has been on Lively’s substance; or more accurately, her character," Eldridge told Fox News Digital. "By hitting the red carpet at the 'Who’s Who’ event of the year, it was a tactical decision, designed to shift the public’s focus from the substance, back to the style. From this point forward, Lively will need a concerted effort to shift public sentiment and perception from the purported 'Mean Girl' manipulation, back to the 'Gossip Girl' adoration. Remember, you can’t spell Queen without Q, and over the last year and a half, Lively’s Q-score plummeted to a career low for the once popular it-girl actress."
So, can Lively recover? Industry experts argued Lively’s star power extends far beyond the current controversy. Kintner pointed to Lively’s longevity in the spotlight as a key factor in her resilience.
"Blake Lively has been famous for a long time, and her brand is bigger than one lawsuit or one news cycle," Kintner said, pointing out her continued strength in fashion, beauty and entertainment. The priority moving forward, she suggested, is making sure her next moves feel genuine, not engineered.
"She does not need a dramatic reinvention," the PR expert noted. "She just needs consistency, time and a little room to breathe."
US issues travel warning for breathtaking vacation destination as crime, unrest surge
American tourists are being warned to exercise caution in a Latin American country, with a "do not travel" warning issued for one of its provinces.
The State Department on April 28 updated its Level 2 travel advisory for Bolivia, urging Americans to "exercise increased caution."
A South American country bordering Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Chile and Paraguay, Bolivia is known for its jungles, salt flats and Andean landscapes.
URGENT WARNING ISSUED BY CDC AS CHIKUNGUNYA VIRUS OUTBREAK HITS VACATION DESTINATION
The country draws tourists to its administrative capital, La Paz, as well as to Lake Titicaca, which sits between Bolivia and Peru.
Despite its existing Level 2 status, the State Department's latest update added new warnings for Bolivia.
The advisory notes that petty crime is common in the country, "especially in popular tourist spots."
Officials are using people to "stay aware of your surroundings," the advisory noted.
POPULAR TRAVEL SCAMS AND SAFETY WARNINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE TAKING VACATION
"Large demonstrations about local politics and the economic situation can happen with little warning. Demonstrations may block transportation and other essential services."
U.S. government employees in El Alto, Bolivia's second-largest city, are "encouraged to pay extra attention to their surroundings" due to petty crime, the notice said.
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Tourists are also urged not to travel to the province of Chapare "for any reason."
"Significant amounts of coca are produced illegally in Chapare Province," the advisory noted.
"Local police presence is limited, and there is a higher prevalence of violent crime associated with narco-trafficking."
The State Department also said that U.S. government employees need "special authorization" to travel to Chapare Province.
The advisory added, "The U.S. government has limited ability to offer emergency services to U.S. citizens in Chapare Province."
Americans visiting Bolivia are urged to stay vigilant, avoid crowds and follow local updates, as well as to travel with insurance and emergency plans.
Fox News Digital reached out to the U.S. State Department for additional comment.
Bolivia joins a growing list of destinations recently flagged by U.S. officials.
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Last month, the State Department updated its travel advisory for Azerbaijan, a South Caucasus country between Eastern Europe and Western Asia, over Iran-linked security concerns.
Officials also issued a security alert for Tirana, Albania, cautioning that Iran-linked groups may target Americans.
Iowa Dem’s Muslim prayer, ‘too white’ comments resurface in tight House race: 'Downright shameful'
State Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-Iowa, caught the attention of the international Muslim community when, in 2021, she offered up a Muslim prayer on the floor of the Iowa Senate despite also being an ordained minister with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Five years later — amid a bid to unseat Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, and flip control of one of the most competitive congressional districts in the country — Garriott’s resurfaced framing of the moment underscores her belief that an overly White and homogeneous representation underserves minority communities.
As a recently elected state senator, Garriott shared a prayer highlighting a handful of Allah’s many names and characteristics.
"We can all benefit as people of faith and as citizens to grow stronger as a community. So today I’m sharing a prayer from an accomplished young woman in my district," she read.
MAMDANI’S GOD SQUAD: THE CLERICS, ACTIVISTS AND POLITICAL OPERATIVES WHO HAVE HIS BACK
Some time after the prayer, Garriott joined Mohammed Shafiq on the YouTube channel British Muslim TV to explain the moment.
"The Senate begins every day with prayer. And they almost always share Christian prayers. And for me, it’s really important to make sure that the diverse religious communities here and in Des Moines get to have their voice heard," Garriott told Shafiq.
"I’ve made a commitment to only be praying prayers from those other communities," Garriott said.
Iowa is 93% Protestant, Catholic or unaffiliated, according to the Pew Research Center. Less than 1% of Iowa’s population is Muslim, according to the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI).
At the time, Garriott explained she believed Muslims had suffered discrimination in the state, prompting her to characterize her prayer as one way for lawmakers to combat religious discrimination.
"I just think there is some horrible animosity towards our Muslim neighbors. And we have a significant Muslim population in this metro area, and those voices deserve to be heard," she said.
MICHIGAN DEMOCRAT QUITS POLITICS, SAYS PARTY'S AGENDA BETRAYED HER FAITH
The moment is consistent with other instances where Garriott has voiced concern over homogeneity in representation — particularly among White Christian men.
"By being in state government, I can see we have a long way to go in representing our community. It’s not a very diverse group of leaders. We don’t have people from many religious backgrounds — it’s mostly white, mostly Christian," Garriott said in a separate interview.
Garriott did not respond to inquiries on how far lawmakers should go to represent beliefs other than their own for the sake of representation or whether such efforts increased risks of disingenuous expressions of faith.
On the other side of the aisle, her framing sparked backlash from Republicans.
Her opponent, Nunn, alluded to her comments on race and religion in Iowa in a campaign event on Tuesday afternoon.
"I don't need a lecture from someone who pretends to preach from the pulpit while at the same time doing things like tell Americans that they're too white and too racist, or wag their finger to say ‘hey, most of Iowa is bigoted.’ I don't believe that's true," Nunn said.
To at least one Republican strategist, Garriott has used her comments and the 2021 prayer to separate herself from other Democrats.
REPUBLICAN SAYS ‘MUSLIMS DON’T BELONG IN AMERICAN SOCIETY,’ DRAWS FIERCE DEMOCRATIC BACKLASH
"It is downright shameful to go on a foreign television show and call Americans racist and backwards, but this is exactly how Sarah Trone Garriott has risen up the ranks in the Democrat Party," Zach Kraft, an RNC spokesperson, said.
Nunn last won re-election in 2024 by just 3.9%. The district, Iowa’s third, is among the country’s 16 most competitive races in 2026, according to the Cook Political Report.
Trump doubles down on attacks against 'terrible' '60 Minutes' host Norah O'Donnell
President Donald Trump doubled down on his attacks against CBS News' "60 Minutes" host Norah O'Donnell after she asked him about the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner shooter's manifesto.
"She's terrible," Trump said on "The Hugh Hewitt Show" Monday. "I mean, she's interviewed me. She's a regular person that gets paid a lot of money. She's just… she's no different. I could get any woman off the street practically, and they would do just as good a job as her. There's nothing special."
Hewitt accused O'Donnell of rehearsing the question to provoke Trump to walk out of the interview. Trump, however, rejected the idea of walking out of the interview like he did in 2020.
"The problem with walking off, it's like it becomes the bigger story," Trump said.
Trump berated O'Donnell during their interview last month after she read portions of suspect Cole Allen's manifesto, which alluded to concerns over a rapist and a pedophile, and asked for his reaction.
"Well, I was waiting for you to read that because I knew you would, because you're horrible people," Trump answered. "Horrible people. Yeah, he did write that. I'm not a rapist. I didn't rape anybody."
"Do you think he was referring to you?" O'Donnell asked.
TRUMP CRITICS BLAME PRESIDENT'S RHETORIC FOR WHCA DINNER SHOOTING
"I'm not a pedophile. You read that crap from some sick person? I got associated with all... stuff that has nothing to do with me. I was totally exonerated. Your friends on the other side of the plate are the ones that were involved with, let's say, Epstein or other things. But I said to myself, 'You know, I'll do this interview, and they'll probably...' I read the manifesto. You know, he's a sick person. But you should be ashamed of yourself reading that because I'm not any of those things," Trump said.
O'Donnell interrupted to argue that she was quoting the alleged gunman's words, but Trump continued to call her "disgraceful."
TRUMP CLAIMS CBS, '60 MINUTES' HAVE TREATED HIM 'FAR WORSE' UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP
"You shouldn't be reading that on '60 Minutes.' You're a disgrace. But go ahead. Let's finish the interview," Trump said.
In a comment to Fox News Digital, a CBS News spokesperson referred to a previous statement the organization made in defense of O'Donnell's questioning.
"This suspect is being charged with one count of trying to assassinate the President of the United States. It is a basic tenet of journalism to ask questions and seek the truth. It was our responsibility to ask the president about the latest evidence and what we had just learned after obtaining the manifesto a few hours before the interview," the statement read.
Spencer Pratt gets support from WWE legend in bid for Los Angeles mayor: 'LA needs change'
Torrie Wilson was one of the most recognizable women’s wrestlers at the peak of the "Monday Night Wars" between WWE and World Championship Wrestling (WCW).
Wilson was in WCW from 1999 to 2000 before WWE bought WCW, and she moved to that company. She was with WWE from 2001 to 2008 and made several sporadic appearances with the company after that.
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She was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2019 and was also a part of the Tri-Fitness Hall of Fame in 2012 after winning the Tri-Fitness Grace and Physique Championship in 1998.
On Sunday, Wilson dipped her toe in the political waters when she wrote on social media that she would back actor Spencer Pratt in his bid for Los Angeles mayor if she still lived in the city.
"I don’t live in LA anymore. If I did I’d support my friend @spencerpratt," she wrote on X, quote-tweeting Pratt’s campaign video. "LA needs change."
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Pratt is one of the biggest challengers to current Mayor Karen Bass. Pratt, who was among the thousands in Los Angeles affected by the Palisades wildfires last year, said Angelenos were upset with Bass’ management.
The two traded barbs over Pratt’s comments. Bass accused Pratt of "exploiting" the tragedy, which he faced personally, to score political points.
Pratt, however, pushed back and said he won community awards for his support of the Palisades community during the tragedy that resulted in both his and his families' homes being burnt down. He said he also knew people who burned alive across the street from his childhood home.
Bass and Pratt are two of the 13 candidates running for mayor. Both Bass and Pratt are the frontrunners heading into the June 2 primary. The general election is Nov. 3.
Fox News' Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.
WWE legend Ric Flair blasts Lakers' Luka Doncic, calls on team to trade him
Pro wrestling legend Ric Flair didn’t mince words when it came to Luka Doncic’s absence from the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.
The Lakers fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of their second-round series, 108-90. Doncic missed the first round of the playoffs with a hamstring injury. Los Angeles has seen Austin Reaves return to the lineup in the last series. He played 36 minutes against the Thunder, but only scored eight points.
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Flair wrote on X that Doncic needed to get back in the game and that he hoped the Lakers would decide to trade him.
"Luka, Please Get In The Game! Take A Shot Of Cortisone And Deal With The Pain! They Are Paying You 50 Million A Year, And You’re Not There! WTF! I Hope @JeanieBuss Trades You Next Year. Nobody Wants A Lame Duck On Their Team!" Flair wrote in his rant.
Flair made clear in an interview with Fox News Digital in 2023 that he keeps an eye on all sports – not just what’s going on in pro wrestling.
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In particular, he found players resting due to "load management" loathsome.
"These basketball players that whine and b----, it's taken a lot of the sport away from me," he said at the time.
Flair contrasted wrestling through his own injuries to NBA players sitting out through injuries he felt they should be able to play through.
"They go to work hurt," Flair said about pro wrestlers at the time. "That’s what p---es me off today about these basketball players that stub their toe. No s---. How do you think I feel about that knowing I wrestled six months after I broke my back in a f---ing airplane crash? ‘I got a torn thumbnail. Whoa, whoa, whoa.’"
In any event, Doncic’s hamstring injury cost him the last five games of the regular season and each of the Lakers’ playoff games.
Fox News’ Scott Thompson contributed to this report.
Lakers player suffers gruesome pinkie injury in Game 1 loss to Thunder
Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt suffered a gruesome finger injury during the team’s Game 1 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.
Vanderbilt went up to block Thunder star Chet Holmgren’s dunk, but missed. Instead, his pinkie got caught on the backboard as he came down. Vanderbilt was in a ton of pain, and even the Thunder bench winced at Vanderbilt’s hand.
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"I mean, it just — it looked pretty gruesome in my opinion," Thunder guard Jared McCain said after Oklahoma City finished off the 108-90 victory. "I don’t even know, to be honest, what I was looking at. It looked pretty bad, though. So prayers for him. Sending him love."
Vanderbilt, who averaged 4.4 points per game during the regular season, only played six minutes in Game 1. He had two points and a rebound.
Lakers coach JJ Redick spoke about Vanderbilt’s mishap after the game, calling it a "freak injury."
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"I went to go check on him because it just looked bad," Redick said. "He was audibly screaming. Knew he had done something. We’re obviously disappointed. But, that happened, and it’s just a freak injury."
Los Angeles has been hit with the injury bug over the last month. The team lost Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic for the last few games of the regular season. Reaves returned to the floor for Game 5 against the Houston Rockets.
Against the Thunder, he only scored eight points in 36 minutes.
Doncic is still nursing a hamstring injury, which cost him the final five regular-season games and now Game 1 against Oklahoma City.
Game 2 is set for Thursday night.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Anti-Israel agitators clash with NYPD officers near synagogue
Anti-Israel agitators clashed with law enforcement outside a Manhattan synagogue on Tuesday night as pro-Israel demonstrators waved Israeli and American flags nearby.
Footage from the protest shows New York City police officers shoving the anti-Israel group back to create a street-wide separation between the two groups. The group waving Palestinian flags and wearing kaffiyehs numbered roughly 100 and could be heard repeatedly shouting, "Israel should not exist."
The anti-Israel group, gathered less than a block from the Park East Synagogue, chanted, "Palestine will never die," and, "Stop the sale of stolen land."
The organizer of the protest was the anti-Israel group Pal-Awda NY/NJ, which previously organized a similar demonstration outside the same synagogue in November, according to the New York Post.
JEWISH SAFETY IN NEW YORK DEPENDS ON CLEAR LINES AND MORAL COURAGE FROM MAMDANI
It was in response to that protest that the New York City Council passed legislation allowing the NYPD to place barriers around synagogues to protect congregants from protesters. Police at Tuesday night's clash were seen enforcing that barrier.
The council passed the legislation with a veto-proof 44-5 majority, but NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani refused to sign the legislation, instead dragging it out until an April 25 deadline when it automatically became law, the Post reported.
The Anti-Defamation League released an annual report on Wednesday morning that found 2025 "marked one of the most violent periods for American Jews."
ANTISEMITIC INCIDENTS BREAK RECORD FOR 4TH STRAIGHT YEAR, ADL FINDS
Assaults against Jews rose to 203 from 196 compared to the year before, and assaults with deadly weapons rose from 23 to 32.
The group did find that non-violent antisemitic incidents, including incidents of harassment and vandalism, were down 39% and 21% since 2024 respectively.
"Our 2025 Audit, which shows it was one of the most violent years for American Jews on record is a reminder of how dramatically the threat landscape has shifted. Numbers that would have shocked us five years ago are now our floor," said ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt.
The ADL audit includes both criminal and non-criminal acts of harassment, vandalism and assault against individuals and groups as reported to ADL by victims, law enforcement, the media and partner organizations, and evaluated by ADL's experts, the group says.
Former ICE official loses GOP primary in key battleground district Republicans are hoping to flip
Former Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deputy Director Madison Sheahan finished third in her Ohio Republican congressional primary Tuesday night, handing ICE critics a talking point but leaving Republican officials convinced they have the right candidate to flip a battleground seat.
Sheahan’s loss to former state Rep. Derek Merrin brings relief to Republicans concerned about her electability against Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio.
Kaptur is the longest-serving woman in congressional history and a top National Republican Congressional Committee target in the midterms as a potential seat to flip in the battle for the narrow House majority. The House is currently 218-212, with five vacancies and one independent who caucuses with the GOP.
"40-year career politician Marcy Kaptur has failed Ohioans for decades and Northwest Ohioans are ready for change," NRCC spokesman Zach Bannon told Fox News on Wednesday morning.
ICE DEPUTY DIRECTOR RESIGNS FROM AGENCY TO RUN FOR CONGRESS
"While Kaptur has pushed a radical far-left agenda of higher taxes, open borders, and sex change surgeries for kids, Derek Merrin is set to flip the seat red in order to deliver commonsense leadership and real results."
Merrin won 44.1% of the vote, according to the latest Associated Press election results, with state Rep. Josh Williams second (24.3%) and Sheahan third (20.2%).
The northwest Ohio 9th Congressional District has been identified as one of the Republicans' best pickup opportunities in the midterms.
Merrin’s win sets up a rematch with Kaptur, who has represented the Toledo-area seat since 1983 and eked out a 2024 victory by just 0.64%, with Merrin losing by just 2,382 votes. Trump carried the district by seven points in 2024 and Kaptur’s narrow re-election margin last cycle makes the seat especially vulnerable.
Sheahan, 29, entered the race after leaving her post as deputy director of ICE in January, leaning heavily into her work carrying out President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda. The former aide to South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem hailed her record at ICE in her campaign launch video, saying she was best suited to flip Kaptur's seat due to immigration enforcement experience.
"In Washington, hypocrisy, excuses and failure can earn you a lifetime job," she said. "But on my family farm, that would have put us out of business."
But her pitch did not break through in a primary where local analysts said voters appeared more focused on economic issues, including manufacturing jobs and tariffs. Merrin also began the race with stronger name recognition locally. Sheahan, a native of tiny Curtice, Ohio, near the shores of Lake Erie, labeled herself "a Trump conservative," but had just recently moved back to the area after leaving ICE and spending time in Louisiana and South Dakota.
The result avoids what some Republicans privately viewed as a potentially riskier general-election matchup. While immigration remains a motivating issue for GOP voters, Sheahan’s association with ICE came as the agency faced heightened scrutiny over aggressive enforcement tactics, including fatal shootings by immigration officers earlier this year.
"There hasn’t been an enormous amount of chatter about her," Democrat operative Aaron Pickrell told The Washington Post. "Even within Ohio Republican politics, immigration does not seem like the driving factor."
Her loss also suggests that Trump’s immigration platform, while still central to the Republican brand, may not be enough by itself to carry a candidate through a competitive primary in a battleground House district.
"In less than one year at ICE, I’ve stopped more illegal immigration than Marcy Kaptur has in her 43 years in Washington," Sheahan said in her January campaign launch video alongside Noem in ICE garb.
"So when the call came to help President Trump clean up the dangerous immigration mess, as deputy director of ICE, I answered the call."
While Democrats will attempt to point to the ICE ties as being an unpopular electoral issue this cycle, immigration enforcement "is still a winning issue for Republicans" in the district, state and nationally, a GOP operative told the Post.
Immigration "does fire up the base in districts like that, especially in a low-turnout election when you need low-propensity Trump voters," the operative added. "This issue galvanizes them."
Fox News' Paul Steinhauser and The Associated Press contributed to this report.