Emilia Strong Sykes

Democrat Representative of Ohio's 13th district

  • Representative

    Ohio, district 13

    January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2025

1

Congresses Served

1

House Terms

January 4, 1986 (38 years old)

Birthday

  • Formerly represented the 34th district in the Ohio House of Representatives and served as minority leader of that chamber from 2019 to 2021.
  • Grew up in a politically active family with both parents serving in state legislative positions.
  • Holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, a Juris Doctor, and a Master of Public Health.
  • Worked as an administrative adviser in the Summit County fiscal office before entering politics.
  • Successfully ran for the Ohio House of Representatives in 2013, continuing a family legacy in the seat.
  • Introduced legislation to exempt feminine hygiene products from sales tax in 2015.
  • Supported Joe Biden during the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries.
  • Won the EMILY’s List 2020 Gabby Giffords Rising Star Award.
  • Announced candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives for Ohio’s 13th congressional district in January 2022 and won the general election in November 2022.
  • Voted against removing COVID-19 vaccine mandates for healthcare workers and against ending the COVID-19 national emergency in early 2023.
  • Co-sponsored the bipartisan RAIL Act to improve railroad safety in March 2023.
  • Voted against directing the removal of U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days in March 2023.
  • Opposed a resolution that would nullify the District of Columbia’s law allowing noncitizen residents to vote in local elections.
  • Holds memberships in several caucuses, including the Congressional Black Caucus, Bipartisan Women’s Caucus (vice-chair), New Democrat Coalition (vice-chair of the Affordable Housing Taskforce), Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Democratic Women’s Caucus, Congressional Equality Caucus, Problem Solvers Caucus (Working Group on Pharmaceutical Affordability and Access), Women in STEM Caucus, and Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition.
  • Serves on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, with a vice ranking member position on the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee.