ICE Deputy Director Resigns to Challenge Longest-Serving Congresswoman in Ohio

Sheahan, a central figure in the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration crackdown, will seek the Republican nomination for Ohio’s 9th Congressional District. Her target is Rep. Marcy Kaptur, the longest-serving woman in congressional history and a Democratic survivor who has held her seat since 1983.

From Enforcement to Election

Sheahan’s pivot from federal law enforcement to retail politics sets the stage for one of the most closely watched races of the 2026 midterm cycle. In her announcement, she framed her candidacy as a continuation of her work in Washington, positioning herself as a defender of "American jobs, safety, and values."

"For the last year, I have stood on the front lines enforcing the laws of this country when others wouldn't," Sheahan said in a statement released Thursday. "I helped secure our borders. Now, I am coming home to secure the future for Ohio’s families who have been left behind by career politicians."

A "Work Horse" with Cabinet Backing

Sheahan enters the race with significant wind in her sails, including an immediate and glowing endorsement from her boss, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

"Madison is a work horse and a strong executor," Noem stated, accepting the resignation "with regret but full support." Noem credited Sheahan with operationalizing the administration's mass deportation strategy, noting that Sheahan "successfully led the agency in arresting and removing criminal illegal aliens at a pace critics said was impossible."

The endorsement signals that the Trump administration intends to go all-in on flipping Kaptur’s seat, viewing Sheahan as the ideal messenger for their "law and order" platform.

Rapid Expansion at ICE

Sheahan’s campaign is expected to run heavily on her record at ICE, which underwent a historic transformation during her short tenure. According to campaign materials released Thursday, Sheahan managed the agency's explosion into an $85 billion organization—a budget increase pushed through by the White House earlier last year.

Most notably, her campaign touted her logistical role in "Project 12k," a rapid-fire initiative that saw the hiring and deployment of 12,000 new law enforcement officers within a single 180-day period. This massive staffing surge was the logistical backbone of the administration's intensified interior enforcement operations.

The Challenge Ahead

Before her time at ICE, Sheahan served as the Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and held various leadership roles under Noem in South Dakota, establishing her credentials as a loyalist with executive experience.

However, unseating Marcy Kaptur remains a formidable task. Kaptur, known for her populist economic stances and deep roots in the Toledo area, has successfully fended off rigorous Republican challenges for over four decades, even as Ohio has trended increasingly red.

Political analysts predict the race will be a collision of ideologies: Kaptur’s old-school labor Democratic brand versus Sheahan’s hardline, MAGA-aligned enforcement persona.

"This isn't just a race for a seat," said Ohio GOP Chair Alex Triantafilou. "With Madison Sheahan, we aren't just sending a candidate; we are sending a message."