Congresswoman Emilia Sykes represents Ohio’s 13th Congressional District, the Birthplace of Champions, in the U.S. House of Representatives.

 

Sykes served 8 years in the Ohio House of Representatives including 3 years as Minority Leader. There she fought for tax cuts for middle-class and working families, funding for high-speed Internet, and higher wages and safer working conditions for Ohio’s workers. In particular, Sykes’ work on domestic violence issues earned bipartisan praise and resulted in her priority legislation, Ohio HB 1, to be signed into law, which protects the safety and security of people in violent relationships.

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In 2022, Congresswoman Sykes defeated a Republican Fox News commentator to represent Ohio’s newly redrawn 13th Congressional District, winning one of the toughest races in the country. According to SplitTicket.org, Congresswoman Sykes achieved the largest over performance of any challenger in a battleground district in the nation. The district covers the entirety of Summit County, as well as parts of Stark and Portage Counties. It includes two of Ohio’s 10th largest cities, Akron and Canton, as well as numerous suburban communities, and rural areas that include one of Ohio’s largest dairy farms.

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Congresswoman Sykes is working to connect her community to Congress. She sits on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee where she works to rebuild our roads and infrastructure and protect our water resources and environment. Additionally she serves on the Science, Space and Technology Committee where she guides research investment and technology development. Both committees are vital to the economic prosperity of Ohio and our nation.

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Prior to serving in the state legislature, Congresswoman Sykes served as the Administrative Staff Advisor at the Summit County Fiscal Office and as a Law Clerk to the Chief Judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Northern District of Georgia. Sykes attended Kent State University, graduating with high honors with a B.A. in Psychology. She later attended the University of Florida, where she earned a Juris Doctor with a Certificate in Family Law and a Masters of Public Health.

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Sykes has earned several awards for her advocacy, including the EMILY’s List national Rising Star award, Legislator of the Year from the Ohio Minority Business Enterprise, the Champion for Children award from Summit County Children’s Services, and 30 for the Future award from the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce. Congresswoman Sykes is also an active member of her community, including as a lifelong member of her church, a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and a life member of the NAACP.

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Congresswoman Sykes became a newlywed in 2022, marrying Kevin Boyce. When she’s not legislating, Sykes values spending time with family, enjoying the arts, and appreciating the countless blessings life has offered her.