Sykes holds Akron seat against Coleman in tight 13th District race

Emilia Sykes kept her seat in Ohio's 13th Congressional District on Tuesday night. Unofficial results showed her ahead of Republican challenger Carey Coleman. The Associated Press called the race for Sykes around 8 p.m. with about 30% of precincts reporting.

The campaign centered on how national issues affect local costs. Sykes criticized President Donald Trump's military operations in Iran. She said she voted five times to end what she called a reckless war of choice. She noted that the administration has refused to explain its strategy to Congress.

Coleman asked voters to give him a chance to break 50 years of Democratic control. He argued that the district needed a new voice. Both candidates addressed rising prices driven by the war, ICE mobilization, and data centers during October events.

Sykes has represented the district since 2022. Before that, she served in Ohio House District 34 as minority leader. The current district boundaries were drawn in 2025. The new map made the area slightly more favorable for Democrats after a mid-cycle redistricting effort.

The district includes Summit County, part of Stark County, and a small segment of Portage County. Sykes praised Coleman for running and bringing different perspectives to voters. She stated that democracy works best when people are fully engaged and participating.

The race concludes a period where local representatives debated national policy impacts. Sykes will continue serving the Akron area under the new map. Coleman acknowledged the defeat after the AP called the race.