AKRON, Ohio — On Thursday, a county elections board found itself in a stalemate regarding the residency of U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes, a Democrat from Ohio. This tie is now set to be addressed by the state’s Republican secretary of state.
The challenge to Sykes’ residency was initiated by a Republican political activist. She is currently running against GOP candidate Kevin Coughlin in the highly competitive election scheduled for November 5, which is perceived as one of the closest House races in the country.
Both Democratic members on the Summit County Board of Elections voted in opposition to the challenge, while their two Republican counterparts supported it. Importantly, this dispute does not directly impact Sykes’ ability to run for office; board members acknowledged that she can still cast her own vote in Akron.
Sykes, who is serving her first term in Congress, was absent from the meeting but provided a detailed three-page affidavit. In this document, she stated that she has been a resident of North Howard Street in Akron for the past 11 years. Evidence supporting her claim includes her driver’s license, congressional pay stubs, and her regular attendance at a local church, alongside her assertion that she returns to her residence when not working in Washington, D.C.
The crux of the disagreement stems from a form submitted earlier in the year by her husband, Kevin Boyce, which indicated that Sykes lived in his Columbus household. Boyce, an elected member of the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, lives in Columbus, approximately 130 miles southwest of Akron. In September, Boyce clarified to the Summit Board of Elections that Sykes does not actually reside with him in Franklin County.
Sykes’ attorney, Don McTigue, defended her position during the hearing, emphasizing that it is normal for spouses to maintain separate residences. He expressed hope that society has progressed beyond the outdated notion that a woman’s residence is solely determined by her husband’s address.
The Republicans and Democrats on the board have two weeks to submit a letter regarding the issue to Secretary of State Frank LaRose. As a result, this matter is unlikely to reach a resolution before the upcoming election. As of Thursday morning, there were no indications that Sykes had voted, as confirmed by the Summit County elections office.
