Emilia Sykes

Emilia Strong Sykes[1][2] (born January 4, 1986) is an American politician currently serving as the Minority Leader of the Ohio House of Representatives. Sykes represents the 34th district, which consists of portions of the Akron area.

Emilia Sykes
Minority Leader of the Ohio House of Representatives
Assumed office
February 6, 2019
Preceded byFred Strahorn
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the 34rd 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 collaboratively held the same seat from 1982 to 2014, meaning that the seat has been represented by a member of the Sykes family for over 35 years.[3][4]

Bio

Sykes is a graduate of Kent State University, holding a B.A. in Psychology, and later received both a JD and a Master of Public Health from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and College of Public Health and Health Professions. She also has served as an administrative adviser in the Summit County fiscal office.[5][6] In 2013, Sykes decided to run for the Ohio House of Representatives to succeed her father Vernon, who was term-limited.[7] She defeated Summit County Councilman Frank Communale to take the Democratic nomination.[8] Sykes defeated Republican Cynthia Blake 72%-28% to take the seat.[9][10]

In 2015, Sykes and fellow Democratic lawmaker Greta Johnson introduced a bill that looked to exempt feminine hygiene products from sales tax. [11]

In 2019, she was elected the leader of the Democrats in the Ohio House, becoming Minority Leader.[12]

In 2020, she offered her support by backing the former Vice President Joe Biden's presidential campaign.[13]

Sykes made headlines in July 2020 when she won the Emily's List 2020 Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award.[14]

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%

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. "Meet Emilia". Retrieved 2014-12-10.
  6. "First New Democratic House Leader in Five Years Has Strong Ties to the Statehouse". Retrieved 2019-03-27.
  7. "Emilia Sykes to seek the Ohio House seat her family long has held". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron. 2013-09-17. Retrieved 2014-12-10.
  8. "Emilia Sykes in the Democratic primary for Ohio House District 34: editorial endorsement". Cleveland Plain Dealer. Cleveland. 2014-04-29. Retrieved 2014-12-10.
  9. Board, Editorial (2014-10-10). "Talking points from endorsement interview with Cynthia Blake and Emilia Sykes in Summit County's Ohio House District 34 race: editorial board". cleveland. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  10. REPORTER, Ellin Walsh |. "Sykes wins 34th Ohio State House District seat". MyTownNEO. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  11. "Is 'Tampon Tax' discriminatory to women?". WCPO. 2016-03-31. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  12. "Emilia Sykes named new Ohio House Democratic leader". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. 2019-01-21. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
  13. 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.
  14. Mills, Emily. "Emilia Sykes wins national award for dedication to women, families". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
Ohio House of Representatives
Preceded by
Fred Strahorn		 Minority Leader of the Ohio House of Representatives
2019–present		 Incumbent
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