Emilia Sykes
Emilia Strong Sykes 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.
She grew up in the Akron area and is the daughter of former state Representatives Vernon Sykes 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.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. In 2013, Sykes decided to run for the Ohio House of Representatives to succeed her father Vernon, who was term-limited. She defeated Summit County Councilman Frank Communale to take the Democratic nomination. Sykes defeated Republican Cynthia Blake 72%-28% to take the seat.
In 2015, Sykes and fellow Democratic lawmaker Greta Johnson introduced a bill that looked to exempt feminine hygiene products from sales tax.
In 2019, she was elected the leader of the Democrats in the Ohio House, becoming Minority Leader.
In 2020, she offered her support by backing the former Vice President Joe Biden's presidential campaign.
Sykes made headlines in July 2020 when she won the Emily's List 2020 Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award.Election history
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