Emilia Sykes

Emilia Strong Sykes[1][2] (born January 4, 1986) is an American politician representing 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
Sykes in 2020
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
Assumed office
January 6, 2015
Preceded byVernon Sykes
Personal details
Born (1986-01-04) January 4, 1986
Political partyDemocratic
RelativesVernon Sykes (father)
Barbara Sykes (mother)
EducationKent State University (BA)
University of Florida (JD, MPH)

She 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, meaning that the seat has been represented by a member of the Sykes family for over 39 years.[3][4]

Biography

Sykes holds a B.A. in psychology from Kent State University. 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. She has served as an administrative adviser in the Summit County fiscal office.[5] In 2013, Sykes decided to run for the Ohio House of Representatives to succeed her father Vernon, who was term-limited.[6] She defeated Summit County Councilman Frank Communale to secure the Democratic nomination.[7] Sykes defeated Republican nominee Cynthia Blake 72%-28% in the general election.[8]

In 2015, Sykes and fellow Democratic lawmaker Greta Johnson introduced a bill that sought to exempt feminine hygiene products from sales tax.[9]

In 2019, she was elected the leader of the Democrats in the Ohio House, becoming Minority Leader.[10]

In 2020, she supported Joe Biden's presidential campaign.[11]

Sykes won the Emily's List 2020 Gabby Giffords Rising Star Award.[12]

In January of 2022 she announced her candidacy for U.S. Congress.[13]

Election 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%

References
  1. "Lawyer Directory – The Florida Bar". Retrieved Mar 17, 2020.
  2. "Emilia Strong Sykes Lawyer Profile on Martindale.com". www.martindale.com. Retrieved Mar 17, 2020.
  3. "Sykes tells local Democrats about 'Ohio Promise' - Morrow County Sentinel". www.morrowcountysentinel.com. 2019-07-26. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  4. "For the Ohio House: Emilia Sykes and Greta Johnson". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  5. "First New Democratic House Leader in Five Years Has Strong Ties to the Statehouse". Retrieved 2019-03-27.
  6. "Emilia Sykes to seek the Ohio House seat her family long has held". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron. 2013-09-17. Retrieved 2014-12-10.
  7. "Emilia Sykes in the Democratic primary for Ohio House District 34: editorial endorsement". Cleveland Plain Dealer. Cleveland. 2014-04-29. Retrieved 2014-12-10.
  8. REPORTER, Ellin Walsh |. "Sykes wins 34th Ohio State House District seat". MyTownNEO. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  9. "Is 'Tampon Tax' discriminatory to women?". WCPO. 2016-03-31. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  10. "Emilia Sykes named new Ohio House Democratic leader". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. 2019-01-21. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
  11. Richardson, Seth A.; clevel; .com (2020-03-11). "Joe Biden announces backing from Emilia Sykes, more than half of Cleveland City Council". cleveland. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  12. Mills, Emily. "Emilia Sykes wins national award for dedication to women, families". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  13. "Former Ohio House Democratic Leader Emilia Sykes announces run for Congress". WKYC. Cleveland. 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
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