1. Emilia Strong Sykes was born on January 4,1986 and is an American politician serving as the US representative for Ohio's 13th congressional district since 2023.
20 Facts About Emilia Sykes
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Emilia Sykes is the daughter of state senator Vernon Sykes and former state representative Barbara Sykes, who successively held the same seat from 1982 to 2014.
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Between Vernon, Barbara, and Emilia, the Sykes family held the seat for 40 years.
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Emilia Sykes initially attended Tuskegee University, where she was the runner up Miss Tuskegee University.
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Emilia Sykes received a Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and a Master of Public Health from the College of Public Health and Health Professions.
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Emilia Sykes worked as a law clerk for the chief judge of the US Bankruptcy Court in the Northern District of Georgia.
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Emilia Sykes won the Democratic nomination by defeating Summit County councilman Frank Communale.
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In 2019, Emilia Sykes was elected as the leader of the Democratic caucus, becoming the minority leader of the Ohio House.
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In January 2022, Emilia Sykes announced her candidacy for Ohio's 13th congressional district.
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Emilia Sykes won reelection in 2024 against former Republican state representative Kevin Coughlin in a close election.
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Emilia Sykes cast her first vote on January 3,2023 for Democrat Rep.
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Emilia Sykes was sworn into the United States House of Representative with the 118th Congress on January 7,2023.
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In 2025, Emilia Sykes was one of 46 House Democrats who joined all Republicans to vote for the Laken Riley Act.
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In 2024, Emilia Sykes announced $169 million in federal funding secured for Ohio's drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure.
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Emilia Sykes voted against the Freedom for Health Care Workers Act in January 2023, a bill which would remove COVID-19 vaccine mandates for healthcare workers.
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Emilia Sykes co-introduced the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act in 2023, a legislative package designed to address racial disparities in maternal mortality.
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Emilia Sykes co-introduced the bipartisan Enhancing COPS Hiring Program Grants for Local Law Enforcement Act in 2023, alongside Reps.
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In 2024, Emilia Sykes helped secure Akron's designation as one of seven regional tech hubs in the country, focused on sustainable plastics and rubbers.
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Emilia Sykes said that the initiative, aligned with her district's identity as the "Rubber Capital of the World".
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In 2023, Emilia Sykes voted against House Resolution 21 which directed President Joe Biden to remove US troops from Syria within 180 days.