Emilia Strong Sykes
DemocratU.S. Representative, OH-13| Age | 40 (b. 1986-01-04) |
| Gender | Female |
| In office since | 2023-01-03 (~3 yrs) |
| Race / ethnicity | African American / Black |
| Religion | Christian (Baptist) |
| Education | Attended Tuskegee University; B.A. in Psychology (magna cum laude), Kent State University; J.D. with a Certificate in Family Law, University of Florida Levin College of Law; Master of Public Health (MPH), University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions. |
| Prior occupation | Attorney; law clerk to the chief judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia; administrative staff advisor at the Summit County Fiscal Office. |
| Military service | No |
| Birthplace | Akron, Ohio |
| Marital status | Married — Kevin Boyce |
| Residence | Akron, Ohio |
| Notable relatives | Father Vernon Sykes (Ohio state senator and former state representative) and mother Barbara Sykes (former Ohio state representative); the Sykes family held the Akron-area Ohio House seat for about 40 years. Husband Kevin Boyce is a Franklin County Commissioner and former Ohio State Treasurer. |
Pending research: languages · children · openly lgbtq.
Career & politics
| First elected | 2014 |
| Previous offices | Member, Ohio House of Representatives (34th district), 2015-2022 · Minority Leader, Ohio House of Representatives, 2019-2021 |
| Committees | Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight) · Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (Vice Ranking Member; Subcommittees on Highways and Transit, Railroads/Pipelines and Hazardous Materials, and Water Resources and Environment) |
| Caucuses | Congressional Black Caucus · Problem Solvers Caucus · New Democrat Coalition · Black Maternal Health Caucus · Bipartisan Women's Caucus (co-chair) · Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus · Congressional Equality Caucus |
| Leadership | Ohio House Minority Leader (2019-2021) · Co-chair, Bipartisan Women's Caucus · Co-chair, Problem Solvers Caucus tariffs, trade and strategic competition working group · Vice-chair, New Democrat Coalition affordable housing taskforce |
| Ideology | Generally described as a moderate Democrat; member of the centrist Problem Solvers Caucus and New Democrat Coalition. |
| Signature legislation | RAIL (Reducing Accidents in Locomotives) Act - bipartisan rail safety bill introduced in response to the East Palestine, Ohio Norfolk Southern derailment (2023) · Original co-sponsor, Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act (2023) · Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2024 · As an Ohio legislator, sponsored legislation to remove the state sales tax on feminine hygiene products (2015) |
Financial
Net worth: disclosed $-830,000–$755,000 (2024) · estimate
| Federal student loan debt (law degree) | other · $100,000–$250,000 · 2024 |
| Credit card debt (held in spouse's name) | other · $35,000–$80,000 · 2024 |
| Home mortgage (refinanced September 2024) | real_estate · $250,000–$500,000 · 2024 |
Scandals & crimes ledger
No recorded incidents. Under the adjudicated-only methodology, an entry appears only when a court or official body has formally acted and the record is cited.