WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, the longest-serving congresswoman in history, will continue to break her own record after officially securing a 22^nd term.

Kaptur had already declared victory the day after the election—but news organizations did not call the race until county boards of elections in her district submitted certified results this week.

The final numbers showing Kaptur winning 48.3% of the vote to Republican opponent Derek Merrin’s 47.6% of the vote. The margin between them—0.7%—is above the 0.5% margin that would trigger an automatic recount.

“It took a little longer than we hoped, but for the eight counties in our district, I just want to send my gratitude to all those who have protected the seniority that belongs to them, not to me,” Kaptur said.

Kaptur was considered one of the most vulnerable Democrats in the country after her district in the Toledo area was redrawn in 2022. That year she easily beat Republican J.R. Majewski, whose campaign was plagued by accusations that he misrepresented his military service record. Merrin was seen as a more viable candidate.

Yet she managed to hold on in a state that made a hard-right shift, taking several Democrats with it, notably Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, who failed to win his own reelection bid.

“We had to acquaint ourselves with people living in counties that really didn’t know our work,” Kaptur said. “Whether it was the new Amtrak station in Bryan, Ohio, or whether it was the work that we’ve just done on the Lake Erie Islands, we deliver for the people. I hope that we’ll be able to continue to do that, working on a bipartisan way with a big middle, which we’ve always done.”

Kaptur said maintaining her seat in the Democratic column will be especially important beginning in January, when Republicans will control the White House, the Senate and the House.

“I believe that we really do represent the divided opinion in the country, and we have special responsibility because of that in the coming months and weeks,” she said. “I look forward to it.”

Kaptur said her current top priority was passing a federal budget, which is set to expire on Dec. 20.

“I’m on an exclusive committee called appropriations, and we must pass our bills. Some of them have been held up presently in the House. We have to clear those bills. And the only way we do that is on a bipartisan basis,” she said.

Kaptur’s win ensures the incoming Republican House majority will be razor thin. Republicans will hold at least 219 seats, while Democrats will have at least 213. Three House races have not yet been called.