Air Force veteran, local business owner in the running for Congress
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Veteran, local business owner announces bid for Congress
Wayne Kinsel will run for Ohio’s 9th Congressional seat in 2026. The seat is currently held by longtime incumbent Marcy Kaptur (D) Kinsel, of Sylvania, is currently the Director of Voodoo Brewery Toledo. Kinsel entered basic training in 1995, and served in the U.S. Air Force until 2021. The lieutenant colonel also briefly worked for Sylvania Schools, according to his LinkedIn profile. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.
TOLEDO, Ohio — An Air Force veteran and local business owner has filed to run for a seat in the United States House of Representatives.
Wayne Kinsel will run for Ohio’s 9th Congressional seat in 2026, currently held by longtime incumbent Marcy Kaptur (D). On June 19, Kinsel filed with the Federal Election Commission to run for the seat. According to the FEC, he is running as a Republican.
Kinsel, of Sylvania, is currently the Director of Voodoo Brewery Toledo. The brewery opened in March, filling the place of a defunct Max & Erma’s on Central Avenue in Sylvania Township.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Kinsel entered basic training in 1995, and served in the U.S. Air Force until 2021. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Kinsel also worked as the Director of Facilities and Operations for Sylvania Schools in 2021. From 2022 to 2025, Kinsel worked for Woolpert, a Sylvania-based engineering firm.
Kinsel joins former Ohio House Representative Derek Merrin in the race for Ohio’s 9th seat. Merrin, who lost to Kaptur by fewer than 3,000 votes in 2024, announced his second bid for Congress Monday morning.
Kaptur has not yet announced a bid for re-election.
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