Washington DC: The 2026 US midterm elections have produced several notable records, with veteran Democrat Marcy Kaptur winning a 23rd term in Congress, 26-year-old Republican Michael Alfonso set to become the youngest member of the House of Representatives, and Florida’s 13th Congressional District emerging as the closest race by vote margin in the latest available results.
Marcy Kaptur Wins 23rd Term
Democratic Representative Marcy Kaptur, 80, has won re-election from Ohio’s 9th Congressional District, defeating Republican challenger Derek Merrin in a closely watched contest.
According to the latest reported figures, Kaptur secured 52.7% of the vote against Merrin’s 47.3%, with 97% of the votes counted when the Associated Press called the race.
First elected to Congress in 1982, Kaptur has represented the northwestern Ohio district, which is anchored by Toledo, for more than four decades. Her victory marks her 23rd term in the House and further extends her record as the longest-serving woman in congressional history.
The contest was closely watched as Republicans sought to flip the seat. Kaptur and Merrin also faced each other in the 2024 election, when she secured a narrower victory.
Michael Alfonso, 26, Set To Become Youngest House Member
Republican Michael Alfonso, 26, has won Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District and is set to become the youngest member of Congress.
Alfonso defeated Democratic candidate Fred Clark in the November 3 election. The Associated Press called the race on election night, with unofficial results showing Alfonso leading with 56.1% of the vote against Clark’s 43.9%, with 79% counted at the time.
A political newcomer, Alfonso campaigned on America First policies and expressed support for US President Donald Trump and his administration.
The district covers a large, predominantly rural area in northern Wisconsin. Alfonso’s victory places him among the youngest lawmakers entering the incoming Congress.
Florida’s 13th District Records Narrowest Winning Margin
Florida’s 13th Congressional District has emerged as the closest US House race by vote margin in the latest available election tracker.
Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna is listed as winning the contest by 2,517 votes, a margin of approximately 0.8 percentage points, according to the tracker’s reported figures.
The narrow result makes the race one of the key contests to watch as vote counting continues. The final margin may change as additional results are reported and the outcome is formally certified.
Together, the three contests highlight the contrasting outcomes of the 2026 midterms, from Kaptur’s decades-long congressional career to Alfonso’s emergence as the youngest incoming House member and the tight contest in Florida.
