Emilia Sykes

Emilia Sykes
Born	Emilia Strong Sykes 4 1, 1986
Birthplace	Akron, Ohio, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Title	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 13th district
Known for	U.S. Representative for Ohio's 13th congressional district; former Minority Leader of the Ohio House of Representatives
Education	University of Florida (JD), Kent State University (BA)
Spouse(s)	Kevin Boyce
Awards	Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award (2020)
Website	[Official campaign website Official site]

Emilia Strong Sykes (born January 4, 1986) is an American politician and attorney serving as the U.S. representative for Ohio's 13th congressional district since January 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, Sykes previously served in the Ohio House of Representatives, representing the 34th district—which encompasses portions of the Akron metropolitan area—from 2015 to 2022. She made history in 2019 when she was elected minority leader of the Ohio House, becoming the first African American woman to hold a leadership position in that chamber. The daughter of longtime Ohio state legislators Vernon and Barbara Sykes, she inherited a deep connection to Akron's political landscape while forging her own identity as an advocate for healthcare access, labor rights, and housing policy. In the U.S. Congress, Sykes has focused on issues including corporate housing regulation, food security, and government accountability, while representing a competitive district that has drawn significant attention from both parties heading into the 2026 redistricting cycle.

Early Life

Emilia Strong Sykes was born on January 4, 1986, in Akron, Ohio, into a family with deep roots in Ohio politics and public service. Her father, Vernon Sykes, served in both the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate, while her mother, Barbara Sykes, also served in the Ohio House of Representatives. Growing up in the Akron area, Sykes was exposed to the mechanics of state government and constituent service from an early age. Her family's long-standing presence in the Ohio Statehouse would later become both an asset and a point of discussion as she pursued her own political career.

The Sykes family name carried significant weight in Summit County and the broader Akron community. Vernon Sykes held the 34th district seat in the Ohio House for multiple terms before his daughter would eventually succeed him in the same seat. The family's involvement in Democratic politics in northeast Ohio provided Emilia Sykes with both a political education and a network of supporters that would prove instrumental in her early campaigns.

Sykes has spoken publicly about the influence her upbringing in Akron had on her political values, particularly regarding issues of economic opportunity, healthcare, and education in working-class communities. The Akron area, with its history as a manufacturing center and its transition through deindustrialization, shaped her understanding of the challenges facing Ohio's middle-class and working-class families.

Education

Sykes attended Kent State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She subsequently pursued a legal education at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctor (JD) degree. Her legal training provided a foundation for her later work in public policy and her approach to crafting legislation in the Ohio House of Representatives and, later, in the United States Congress.

Career

Ohio House of Representatives

Election to the 34th District

In 2014, Sykes announced her candidacy for the 34th district seat in the Ohio House of Representatives, the same seat that had been held by her father, Vernon Sykes, who was term-limited and moved on to seek a seat in the Ohio Senate. Her decision to seek the seat drew both support and scrutiny, with commentators noting the family's long association with the district. The Cleveland Plain Dealer editorial board weighed in on her candidacy during the Democratic primary, reflecting the level of attention her race attracted even at the state legislative level.

Sykes won the Democratic primary in May 2014, securing her party's nomination for the seat. She went on to win the general election in November 2014, taking office in January 2015. The Akron Beacon Journal editorial board endorsed her candidacy, noting her qualifications and preparation for the role.

Legislative Work in the Ohio House

During her tenure in the Ohio House, Sykes focused on a range of policy issues including healthcare, education, and economic development. She was part of a group of women legislators who filed a lawsuit against the state of Ohio over what they characterized as a discriminatory tax on feminine hygiene products, commonly referred to as the "tampon tax." The lawsuit argued that the state's application of sales tax to menstrual products constituted gender-based discrimination.

Sykes served multiple terms in the Ohio House, representing the 34th district from January 2015 through December 2022. Throughout her time in the state legislature, she built a reputation within the Democratic caucus as an effective communicator and coalition builder, skills that would eventually propel her into a leadership role.

Minority Leader

On January 23, 2019, Sykes was named the new Democratic leader of the Ohio House of Representatives, succeeding Fred Strahorn in the position of minority leader. Her formal assumption of the role took place on February 6, 2019. The selection represented a notable milestone: Sykes became the first African American woman to serve in a top leadership position in the Ohio House of Representatives.

The Statehouse News Bureau noted that the new Democratic leader had "strong ties to the Statehouse," referencing both her own service and her family's long involvement in Ohio state government. As minority leader, Sykes was responsible for coordinating the Democratic caucus's legislative strategy, managing floor debate, and serving as the party's primary spokesperson in the chamber. She held the position from February 2019 until December 31, 2021, when she was succeeded by Kristin Boggs in an acting capacity.

During her time as minority leader, Sykes also engaged in broader Democratic Party politics at the national level. In March 2020, she endorsed Joe Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination, joining more than half of the Cleveland City Council in backing the former vice president's campaign.

U.S. House of Representatives

2022 Congressional Campaign

Following the 2020 census and subsequent redistricting in Ohio, the political map of the state underwent significant changes. Sykes announced her candidacy for the newly drawn Ohio's 13th congressional district, which encompassed portions of the Akron and Canton metropolitan areas. The 13th district seat had previously been held by Tim Ryan, who vacated the seat to run for the U.S. Senate.

The redistricting process in Ohio was contentious, with the maps being challenged before the Ohio Supreme Court. The Associated Press reported on the intersection of the congressional races and the redistricting litigation, which created uncertainty about the final shape of the district boundaries.

Sykes won the 2022 general election and took office on January 3, 2023, succeeding Tim Ryan as the representative for Ohio's 13th congressional district.

Legislative Priorities in Congress

In Congress, Sykes has focused on several policy areas, including housing affordability, labor rights, healthcare access, and food security. She has positioned herself as a representative attentive to the economic concerns of working-class communities in northeast Ohio.

In July 2025, Sykes co-sponsored the reintroduction of the HOMES Act alongside Representative Summer Lee of Pennsylvania. The legislation targeted corporate investors purchasing residential properties, which the sponsors argued was driving up housing prices and reducing the availability of homes for individual buyers and families in communities across the country.

In September 2025, Sykes co-introduced the bipartisan Food Farmacy Act with Representative Monica De La Cruz of Texas. The two congresswomen, serving as co-chairs of the Bipartisan Women's Caucus, proposed the legislation to address food insecurity through healthcare-connected nutrition programs. The bipartisan nature of the bill reflected Sykes's approach to working across party lines on specific policy initiatives.

Sykes also joined fellow Ohio Democratic members of Congress—including Representatives Joyce Beatty, Shontel Brown, and Greg Landsman—for a virtual town hall in October 2025 titled "Straight Talk on the Shutdown & Health Care," which addressed the impact of a federal government shutdown on Ohio constituents and discussed healthcare policy.

Government Shutdown and ICE Reforms

In January 2026, amid a federal government shutdown, Sykes publicly criticized Republican leadership, stating that the shutdown "didn't have to happen." She called on Republicans to "rein in" the practices of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), linking the shutdown to broader policy disputes over immigration enforcement.

Competitive District and 2026 Outlook

Ohio's 13th congressional district has been identified as one of the most competitive districts in the country, drawing attention from both national parties. In the lead-up to the 2026 election cycle, Ohio Republicans began eyeing Sykes's seat as part of the congressional redistricting process that commenced in 2025.

In September 2025, Sykes held a town hall event in Canton attended by approximately 200 residents at a Plumbers and Pipefitters union hall, where she discussed redistricting and other issues of concern to constituents. The event highlighted Sykes's approach to constituent engagement and her awareness of the political challenges posed by potential redistricting.

By early 2026, Sykes had built a substantial campaign war chest, with $1.1 million in cash on hand, according to figures reported by NOTUS. The fundraising total reflected the competitive nature of her district and the expectation of a closely contested race in the 2026 cycle.

2026 State of the Union

In February 2026, Sykes announced that she would bring Matt DiLauro, president of USW Local 2L, as her guest to the State of the Union address, highlighting Ohio workers and labor issues as a central focus of her congressional agenda. The choice of a local union leader as her guest underscored Sykes's emphasis on labor and manufacturing issues in northeast Ohio.

Personal Life

Emilia Sykes is married to Kevin Boyce. The couple resides in the Akron area, maintaining Sykes's long-standing ties to the community she represents. Her father, Vernon Sykes, continues to be active in Ohio politics, having served in the Ohio Senate after his tenure in the Ohio House. Her mother, Barbara Sykes, also served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, making the Sykes family one of the most prominent political families in the Akron area and in Ohio Democratic politics more broadly.

Sykes has maintained close connections to the Akron community throughout her political career, frequently appearing at local events, town halls, and union gatherings across the 13th congressional district.

Recognition

In 2020, Sykes received the Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award, a national honor recognizing her dedication to issues affecting women and families. The award, named for former U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords, acknowledged Sykes's legislative work in the Ohio House on behalf of underserved communities.

Her selection as minority leader of the Ohio House of Representatives in 2019 was itself a significant milestone, as she became the first African American woman to hold a top leadership position in the chamber's history. This distinction brought her national attention within the Democratic Party and contributed to her profile as a rising figure in Ohio politics.

Sykes's co-chairmanship of the Bipartisan Women's Caucus in Congress, alongside Republican Representative Monica De La Cruz, has also been noted as an example of cross-party collaboration on issues of shared concern, particularly regarding food security and nutrition policy.