Marcia “Marcy” Carolyn Kaptur (born June 17, 1946) is an American politician and the longest-serving woman in the history of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Ohio’s 9th Congressional District since 1983. A native of Toledo, she grew up in a working-class Polish-American family; her parents ran a small grocery store in Rossford, and her mother helped organize a United Auto Workers local at a local factory. Kaptur became the first member of her family to graduate college, earning a B.A. in history from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a master’s degree in urban planning from the University of Michigan. Before running for Congress, she worked as an urban and regional planner and served as a domestic policy advisor in the Carter administration, helping maneuver housing and neighborhood revitalization legislation through Congress. First elected to the House in 1982, Kaptur has built a decades-long career advocating for working-class families, economic fairness, and regional investment across northwest Ohio. She currently serves on the House Appropriations Committee and chairs the Energy and Water Development Subcommittee, using her seniority to secure federal funding for jobs, infrastructure, veterans, and Great Lakes protection. Kaptur has a reputation as an economic populist, historically opposing trade deals she argues cost U.S. jobs, fighting for manufacturing, and consistently delivering results for her district’s diverse mix of urban and rural communities.
Key Issue Stances & Priorities
Marcy Kaptur emphasizes a mix of economic, social, and infrastructure priorities rooted in her experience as a legislator representing working-class Ohioans:
- Economic Opportunity & Jobs: Strong advocate for manufacturing and job creation in northwest Ohio; has opposed trade agreements she argues have hollowed out local economies.
- Affordable Healthcare & Retirement Security: Supports policies to protect access to healthcare and strengthen Social Security and Medicare for seniors and middle-class families.
- Infrastructure & Regional Investment: Uses her appropriations role to secure funding for regional infrastructure projects, waterway improvements, and energy development.
- Environmental Stewardship & Great Lakes Protection: Champions restoration and environmental health initiatives for the Great Lakes and local ecosystems.
- Veterans & Community Support: Works to expand services, benefits, and recognition for veterans and active-duty families in her district.
- Defending Working Families: A longtime critic of corporate influence and Wall Street excess, she pushes for economic fairness and accountability.
Accomplishments & Track Record
Marcy Kaptur’s tenure in Congress is marked by a series of historic achievements and sustained constituent advocacy:
- Historic Longevity: Serving continuously since 1983, she is the longest-serving woman ever in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Infrastructure & Appropriations Leadership: As Chair of the Energy and Water Development Subcommittee on Appropriations, she has delivered critical federal investments for northwest Ohio’s economy and infrastructure.
- National World War II Memorial: Sponsored the bipartisan effort that led to creation of the National World War II Memorial on the National Mall, honoring veterans nationwide.
- Populist Economic Leadership: Longtime opponent of trade deals such as NAFTA and CAFTA that she argues weakened U.S. manufacturing; consistently fights for policies that benefit Midwest workers.
- Veterans & Community Advocate: Expanded support for veterans’ services, housing, and disability assistance through legislative work and appropriations.
Ohio’s 9th District stretches across northwestern Ohio, including Toledo and the western Lake Erie shore, with a mix of urban and rural communities. While redistricting has made the district more competitive in recent cycles, Kaptur has remained a fixture of northwest Ohio politics, re-establishing her appeal across changing demographics.
I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I look forward to making new friends, as we have over many, many years and not losing the seniority I have that can benefit our region. There’s no one from our part of Ohio that has that kind of seniority that delivers to the people.
- Marcy Kaptur