Emilia Sykes

Emilia Strong Sykes[1][2] (born January 4, 1986) is an American politician who is the U.S. representative for Ohio's 13th congressional district. A member of the Democratic Party, she formerly represented the 34th district of the Ohio House of Representatives, which consists of portions of the Akron area. From 2019 until 2021, she also served as minority leader of that chamber.

Emilia Sykes
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio's 13th district
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byTim Ryan
Minority Leader of the Ohio House of Representatives
In office
February 6, 2019 – December 31, 2021
Preceded byFred Strahorn
Succeeded byKristin Boggs (Acting)
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the 34th district
In office
January 6, 2015 – December 31, 2022
Preceded byVernon Sykes
Succeeded byCasey Weinstein (redistricting)
Personal details
Born
Emilia Strong Sykes

(1986-01-04) January 4, 1986
Akron, Ohio, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Relatives
Education
WebsiteHouse website

Biography

Sykes grew up in the Akron area and is the daughter of former state representatives Vernon Sykes (now an Ohio state senator) and Barbara Sykes, who successively held the same seat from 1982 to 2014. Between Vernon, Barbara, and Emilia, the Sykes family held the seat for 40 years.[3][4]

Sykes holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Kent State University.[5] She received a JD from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and a Master of Public Health from the College of Public Health and Health Professions.[6]

She previously attended Tuskegee University, where she filed a lawsuit against the university after it mistakenly honored her as the winner of the Miss Tuskegee University beauty pageant in 2006 and revoked her title after correcting it.[7]

Sykes has served as an administrative adviser in the Summit County fiscal office.[8] In 2013, she ran for the Ohio House of Representatives to succeed her father, Vernon, who was term-limited.[9] She defeated Summit County Councilman Frank Communale to secure the Democratic nomination,[10] and Republican nominee Cynthia Blake 72%-28% in the general election.[11]

In 2015, Sykes and fellow Democratic lawmaker Greta Johnson introduced a bill that sought to exempt feminine hygiene products from sales tax.[12]

In 2019, Sykes was elected the leader of the Democrats in the Ohio House, becoming minority leader.[13]

During the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, Sykes supported Joe Biden.[14]

Sykes won the EMILY's List 2020 Gabby Giffords Rising Star Award.[15]

U.S. House of Representatives

2022
See also: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio § District 13

In January 2022, Sykes announced her candidacy for Ohio's 13th congressional district.[16]

In November 2022, she won the general election, defeating Republican nominee Madison Gesiotto Gilbert, a former Miss Ohio USA.[17]

COVID-19 policy

On January 31, 2023, Sykes voted against H.R.497:Freedom for Health Care Workers Act, a bill which would lift COVID-19 vaccine mandates for healthcare workers.[18][19]

On February 1, 2023, Sykes voted against a resolution to end COVID-19 national emergency.[20][21]

Syria

In 2023, Sykes voted against H.Con.Res. 21 which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.[22][23]

Voting rights

On February 9, 2023, Sykes voted against H.J.Res. 24: Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 which condemns the District of Columbia's plan that would allow noncitizens to vote in local elections.[24][25]

Caucus memberships

Committee assignments

Electoral history
Ohio House 34th District
Year Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct
2014 Emilia Sykes 17,299 71.9% Cynthia Blake 6,082 28.1%
2016 Emilia Sykes 35,154 77.1% Gene Littlefield 10,420 22.9%
2018 Emilia Sykes 30,164 78.4% Josh Sines 8,329 21.6%
2020 Emilia Sykes 36,251 76.8% Henry Todd 10,926 23.2%
US House Ohio 13th District
Year Votes Pct Votes Pct
2022 Emilia Sykes 149,816 52.7% Madison Gesiotto Gilbert 134,593 47.3%

References
  1. "Lawyer Directory – The Florida Bar". Archived from the original on March 7, 2017. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  2. "Emilia Strong Sykes Lawyer Profile on Martindale.com". www.martindale.com. Archived from the original on October 1, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  3. "Sykes tells local Democrats about 'Ohio Promise' - Morrow County Sentinel". www.morrowcountysentinel.com. July 26, 2019. Archived from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  4. "For the Ohio House: Emilia Sykes and Greta Johnson". Akron Beacon Journal. Archived from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  5. Walsh |, by Ellin. "Emilia Sykes wins primary for 34th Ohio House District". Akron Beacon Journal. Archived from the original on October 1, 2022. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  6. "Rep. Emilia Sykes joins competitive US House race in Ohio". AP NEWS. January 18, 2022. Archived from the original on January 26, 2022. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  7. Simonson, Joseph (August 13, 2022). "Ohio Dem Sued Alma Mater For Revoking Her Beauty Crown". Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  8. "First New Democratic House Leader in Five Years Has Strong Ties to the Statehouse". January 28, 2019. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  9. "Emilia Sykes to seek the Ohio House seat her family long has held". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron. September 17, 2013. Archived from the original on February 26, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  10. "Emilia Sykes in the Democratic primary for Ohio House District 34: editorial endorsement". Cleveland Plain Dealer. Cleveland. April 29, 2014. Archived from the original on December 14, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  11. REPORTER, Ellin Walsh |. "Sykes wins 34th Ohio State House District seat". MyTownNEO. Archived from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  12. "Is 'Tampon Tax' discriminatory to women?". WCPO. March 31, 2016. Archived from the original on March 23, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  13. "Emilia Sykes named new Ohio House Democratic leader". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. January 21, 2019. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  14. Richardson, Seth A. (March 11, 2020). "Joe Biden announces backing from Emilia Sykes, more than half of Cleveland City Council". Cleveland.com. Archived from the original on March 23, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  15. Mills, Emily. "Emilia Sykes wins national award for dedication to women, families". Akron Beacon Journal. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  16. DeNatale, Dave "Dino" (January 18, 2022). "Former Ohio House Democratic Leader Emilia Sykes announces run for Congress". WKYC. Archived from the original on October 1, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  17. "Emilia Sykes defeats Madison Gesiotto Gilbert in 13th Congressional District race". Akron Beacon Journal.
  18. "Seven Democrats join Republicans in vote to lift vaccine mandate for healthcare workers". January 31, 2023.
  19. "On Passage - H.R.497: To eliminate the COVID-19 vaccine mandate on". August 12, 2015.
  20. "House passes resolution to end COVID-19 national emergency". February 2023.
  21. "On Passage - H.J.RES.7: Relating to a national emergency declared by". August 12, 2015.
  22. "H.Con.Res. 21: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of … -- House Vote #136 -- Mar 8, 2023".
  23. "House Votes Down Bill Directing Removal of Troops From Syria". US News & World Report. March 8, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  24. "House votes to overturn D.C.'s illegal immigrant voting plan". The Washington Times.
  25. "H.J.Res. 24: Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia … -- House Vote #118 -- Feb 9, 2023".
  26. "Congressional Equality Members". February 22, 2023.
  27. "Endorsed Candidates". NewDem Action Fund. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  28. "Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure". Twitter. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
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