House Dem projected to hold onto seat in closely watched race eyed by GOP as potential flip
Democratic Rep. Emilia Sykes has emerged victorious in her closely watched re-election bid, defeating her GOP challenger, former Ohio state Sen. Kevin Coughlin. The Associated Press called the race for Ohio’s 13th Congressional District for Sykes on Wednesday just before 3 p.m. ET.
Sykes, a first-term Democrat who won in 2022 by five points, was defending her seat in a district that includes parts of two counties that former President Trump comfortably won in 2020. She hails from a well-established political family in Akron, with both her parents having served as state lawmakers. Her father, Vernon Sykes, currently serves as a state senator in Ohio.
“This is as 50/50 of a district as it comes,” Sykes said. “It has been rated as such all across the country and there are all eyes on Ohio’s 13th Congressional District.”
Coughlin, a Republican, has served in Ohio as both a state representative and state senator and has spent over 10 years in the business sector since leaving office. The Sykes campaign criticized Coughlin for his time as a lobbyist and accused him of being a “self-serving politician” who would legislate as extreme on the issue of abortion.
Coughlin, on the other hand, has accused Sykes of not living in the district, an allegation she denies. The Summit County Board of Elections recently deadlocked along party lines investigating a complaint about her residency and voting status.
Ohio’s 13th District was a race that Republicans had focused time and money on after identifying it as one of their best opportunities to flip a seat and maintain control of the House. Despite the challenges, Sykes has managed to secure her re-election, signaling a significant win for the Democratic Party.
The victory for Rep. Emilia Sykes reaffirms her position as a strong and resilient leader in Ohio politics. As she prepares to continue serving her constituents in the 13th District, her win also serves as a reminder of the importance of local elections in shaping the political landscape.
