OAN Staff Cory Hawkins and Brooke Mallory
5:11 PM – Thursday, January 15, 2026
Madison Sheahan, the Deputy Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), stepped down from her position on Thursday to enter the race for Ohio’s 9th Congressional District.
Branding herself as a key architect of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, Sheahan released a launch video touting the historic scale of recent deportations and her efforts to secure American neighborhoods.
The 28-year-old Trump ally and close confidante of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem is now targeting “swamp” incumbent Marcy Kaptur, vowing to defend the Trump administration.
“In just one year, we’ve made history, recruiting 12,000 new ICE officers and agents, and deporting over 2.5 million illegal aliens. Ohio neighborhoods are safer thanks to President Trump and ICE,” Sheahan said.
Sheahan is running for Ohio’s 9th Congressional District, which is currently represented by Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio). In November 2024, Kaptur was re-elected despite many of the counties in the district voting in favor of Trump that year.
“For too long, Northwest Ohio has been represented by a career politician who has grown comfortable with the swamp and disconnected from the people back home,” Sheahan said in a statement. “I am running because President Trump deserves a Congress that stands firmly behind his agenda, and Ohio deserves an elected Representative that will make America safer, more affordable, and more prosperous.”
Sheahan’s rapid ascent is closely tied to her relationship with Noem, who moved from the South Dakota governorship to lead the DHS in 2025. Sheahan is now challenging Kaptur, who remains a formidable opponent as the longest-serving woman in the history of Congress.
Noem confirmed Sheahan’s departure, speaking highly of her in a statement.
“I’ve known her for years, she loves her family, Ohio and her country. She will be a great defender of freedom when she goes to Congress,” Noem said, calling Sheahan “a 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.”
“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. We wish her all the best,” Noem added.
On the official ICE website, Sheahan’s biography says: “Prior to serving as ICE’s deputy director, Ms. Sheahan served as the Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, overseeing a $280 million budget and leading a team of over 800 employees across the wildlife, fisheries, and enforcement divisions.”
The race is currently listed as “Toss Up” by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.
A native of Curtice, Ohio, and a former Ohio State University rower, Madison Sheahan graduated in 2019 with a degree in public affairs. Despite lacking a traditional law enforcement background, she rose quickly through the GOP ranks, serving as Political Director for then-Governor Noem and Executive Director of the South Dakota Republican Party.
Sheahan now returns to Ohio to challenge Kaptur in the 9th District — a seat that has grown increasingly conservative. After Kaptur’s narrow 2024 victory, where she failed to reach 50% of the vote, the district is now viewed by many nonpartisan analysts as a “Lean Republican” pickup opportunity for the Trump ally.
“Lean Republican” pickup opportunities refer to political races where the Republican candidate has an advantage, but the race is still considered competitive enough for the Democrat Party to potentially win and flip the seat.
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