Emilia Sykes
Emilia Strong Sykes (born January 4, 1986) is an American politician representing the 34th district of the Ohio House of Representatives, which consists of portions of the Akron area. From 2019 until 2021, she also served as Minority Leader of that chamber. 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 successively held the same seat from 1982 to 2014, meaning that the seat has been represented by a member of the Sykes family for over 39 years. Biography. Sykes holds  a B.A. in psychology from Kent State University. She received a JD from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and a Master of Public Health from the College of Public Health and Health Professions. She 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 secure the Democratic nomination. Sykes defeated Republican nominee Cynthia Blake 72%-28% in the general election. In 2015, Sykes and fellow Democratic lawmaker  Greta Johnson introduced a bill that sought 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 supported Joe Biden's presidential campaign. Sykes won the Emily's List 2020 Gabby Giffords Rising Star Award. In January of 2022 she announced her candidacy for U.S. Congress.