Madison Sheahan, the No. 2 official at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has stepped down from her position and will run for Congress to challenge Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH). Kaptur is the longest-serving woman in Congress, serving as the U.S. representative for Ohio’s 9th congressional district since 1983. “I’m Madison Sheahan. I’m a Trump conservative running for Congress to protect American jobs, American paychecks, and American values,” Sheahan wrote on X. “No Excuses. Let’s get it done,” she added. “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 campaign announcement video. Check it out: I’m Madison Sheahan. I’m a Trump conservative running for Congress to protect American jobs, American paychecks, and American values. No Excuses. Let’s get it done. Join our team today:https://t.co/zGNdMEzFk1 pic.twitter.com/Gz0CI8e5YV — Sheahan For Ohio (@TeamSheahan) January 15, 2026 More from The New York Times: Ms. Kaptur, 79, was first elected to represent the Toledo area in northwest Ohio in 1982, and she coasted to re-election every two years before Ohio Republicans redrew what had been a safe Democratic district into a competitive one before the 2022 elections. In 2024, she won by less than a percentage point against Derek Merrin, who at the time served in the Ohio legislature. On the same ballot, Mr. Trump carried the district by seven points against Vice President Kamala Harris. Mr. Merrin announced another challenge to Ms. Kaptur in June. Several other Republicans have entered the primary, including Josh Williams, a state representative from Toledo. Before coming to Washington, Ms. Sheahan worked as a political aide to Ms. Noem when she was South Dakota’s governor and as secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Ms. Noem praised Ms. Sheahan as a “terrific leader” in a statement to Fox News. Democrats professed confidence that Ms. Kaptur would prevail, but they steered clear of addressing Ms. Sheahan’s immigration enforcement credentials. “Voters are tired of the self-dealing corruption and culture of lawlessness they’ve seen over the last year,” said Kegan Zimmermann, Ms. Kaptur’s campaign manager. “They want a leader focused on affordability and real results, and Marcy Kaptur consistently works across the aisle to deliver both.” Noem told CBS News that Sheahan would be “a great defender of freedom when she goes to Congress.” “Madison Sheahan is a work horse, strong executor, and terrific leader who led the men and women of ICE to achieve the American people’s mandate to target, arrest, and deport criminal illegal aliens,” Noem added. “ICE is stronger and more resolute in our mission to Defend the Homeland thanks to the leadership of Deputy Director Madison Sheahan. We thank her for her service to our agency and our country, and we wish her the best of luck in her new venture!” ICE stated. ICE is stronger and more resolute in our mission to Defend the Homeland thanks to the leadership of Deputy Director Madison Sheahan. We thank her for her service to our agency and our country, and we wish her the best of luck in her new venture! https://t.co/yOlILqtfX8 pic.twitter.com/BFAv0aFqHs — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) January 15, 2026 The Associated Press noted: The 28-year-old native of tiny Curtice, Ohio, near the shores of Lake Erie, posted her resignation letter on the social media platform X. In it, she thanks President Donald Trump and Secretary of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for their “steadfast commitment” to the agency and expressed pride in what ICE has accomplished. Kaptur’s seat is among top targets for national Republicans this fall, as it is every cycle. She defeated Republican state Rep. Derek Merrin by such a close margin two years ago that The Associated Press did not call the race until official results were entered, more than two weeks after the election. The final result was 48.3% to 47.6%.