Emilia Sykes - Ohio Statehouse

As a state representative, secured federal funding for a tech hub in the district and supported the National Apprenticeship Act, which plans to have over $3.85 billion invested to increase access to apprenticeship opportunities.

Supported policies that aim to protect the environment while bolstering the economy.

Wants to revive well-paying jobs in Northeast Ohio and increase job training and job growth opportunities.

Advocates for safeguarding workers, protecting consumers, promoting fair competition, and preventing "jobs from going overseas and ... fighting to bring them back where they belong: Ohio."

Sponsored the Raise the Wage Act, which raises the federal minimum wage to mirror inflation.

Advocates for the Lower Your Taxes Act, which expands the Earned Income and Child Tax Credits, and the Bring Jobs Home Act, which would deter companies from "shipping American jobs overseas."

Supports policies that improve working conditions, including the Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2023, which protects workers' rights to form unions and bargain for changes in their workplace.

- As a state representative, secured federal funding for a tech hub in the district and supported the National Apprenticeship Act, which plans to have over $3.85 billion invested to increase access to apprenticeship opportunities.
- Supported policies that aim to protect the environment while bolstering the economy.
- Wants to revive well-paying jobs in Northeast Ohio and increase job training and job growth opportunities.
- Advocates for safeguarding workers, protecting consumers, promoting fair competition, and preventing "jobs from going overseas and ... fighting to bring them back where they belong: Ohio."
- Sponsored the Raise the Wage Act, which raises the federal minimum wage to mirror inflation.
- Advocates for the Lower Your Taxes Act, which expands the Earned Income and Child Tax Credits, and the Bring Jobs Home Act, which would deter companies from "shipping American jobs overseas."
- Supports policies that improve working conditions, including the Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2023, which protects workers' rights to form unions and bargain for changes in their workplace.

Economy

Said, "Women should always have the right to make decisions about their healthcare and reproductive freedom...the government has no place telling a woman what to do with her body."

Supports working with local healthcare partners to reduce costs of care.

Advocates for lowering the cost of medications such as insulin, ensuring there are affordable long-term care options for state residents, and eliminating "systemic biases that lead to health inequities."

As a representative, introduced the Mental Health Improvement Act, which expands mental health resources.

Co-sponsored the Women’s Health Protection Act, which combats attempts to criminalize access to abortion and contraception. 

Supports the Inflation Reduction Act, which caps the cost of insulin for Medicare recipients at $35 a month, and the Social Security 2100 Act, which protects and extends benefits for seniors.

Said, "While extremists in Congress have proposed cutting Social Security and Medicare benefits, [I have] been clear: [I] will always fight to protect and expand benefits, ensuring all can retire with safety and dignity."

- Said, "Women should always have the right to make decisions about their healthcare and reproductive freedom...the government has no place telling a woman what to do with her body."
- Supports working with local healthcare partners to reduce costs of care.
- Advocates for lowering the cost of medications such as insulin, ensuring there are affordable long-term care options for state residents, and eliminating "systemic biases that lead to health inequities."
- As a representative, introduced the Mental Health Improvement Act, which expands mental health resources.
- Co-sponsored the Women’s Health Protection Act, which combats attempts to criminalize access to abortion and contraception. 
- Supports the Inflation Reduction Act, which caps the cost of insulin for Medicare recipients at $35 a month, and the Social Security 2100 Act, which protects and extends benefits for seniors.
- Said, "While extremists in Congress have proposed cutting Social Security and Medicare benefits, [I have] been clear: [I] will always fight to protect and expand benefits, ensuring all can retire with safety and dignity."

Healthcare

House, Emilia Sykes

As a representative, introduced a bill to improve hiring and retention resources for local law enforcement.

Supports providing resources to law enforcement for their work in protecting and serving their communities while "ensuring there is accountability and trust within the community through meaningful criminal justice reform efforts."

Supports "commonsense" gun safety measures, including universal background checks, red flag laws, and banning assault weapons.

As a state representative, led efforts to modernize Ohio’s domestic violence laws to allow victims of dating violence to obtain civil protective orders.

Led efforts to modernize Ohio’s domestic violence laws to allow victims of dating violence to obtain civil protective orders.

- As a representative, introduced a bill to improve hiring and retention resources for local law enforcement.
- Supports providing resources to law enforcement for their work in protecting and serving their communities while "ensuring there is accountability and trust within the community through meaningful criminal justice reform efforts."
- Supports "commonsense" gun safety measures, including universal background checks, red flag laws, and banning assault weapons.
- Led efforts to modernize Ohio’s domestic violence laws to allow victims of dating violence to obtain civil protective orders.

Public Safety

Wants a "bipartisan, comprehensive solution" for immigration "that stops ignoring the problem."

Opposes undocumented immigration and wants to keep out "dangerous drugs and weapons, while also recognizing decency and humanity is required to those who seek the land of opportunity we call home."

Supports lawful and documented immigration. 

Supports the TRANQ Act, which directs research on opioids to combat the "opioid epidemic."

- Wants a "bipartisan, comprehensive solution" for immigration "that stops ignoring the problem."
- Opposes undocumented immigration and wants to keep out "dangerous drugs and weapons, while also recognizing decency and humanity is required to those who seek the land of opportunity we call home."
- Supports lawful and documented immigration. 
- Supports the TRANQ Act, which directs research on opioids to combat the "opioid epidemic."

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Believes that "access to clean water, clean air, and a clean environment is a basic human right."

Supports policies aimed at reducing energy costs for Ohioans, generating quality jobs, addressing climate change, and developing a clean energy infrastructure to strengthen the economy.

Supports the use of solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass energy.

- Believes that "access to clean water, clean air, and a clean environment is a basic human right."
- Supports policies aimed at reducing energy costs for Ohioans, generating quality jobs, addressing climate change, and developing a clean energy infrastructure to strengthen the economy.
- Supports the use of solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass energy.

Energy & the Environment

Supports the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act, the Freedom to Vote Act, the Democracy for All Amendment, and the We the People Amendment, which protect voting rights and limits campaign financing. 

Said, "[I] will hold accountable anyone who attacks the right to a free and fair election, particularly those who advocate violently overthrowing the government, like the attack we saw on the Capitol on January 6th."

- Supports the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act, the Freedom to Vote Act, the Democracy for All Amendment, and the We the People Amendment, which protect voting rights and limits campaign financing. 
- Said, "[I] will hold accountable anyone who attacks the right to a free and fair election, particularly those who advocate violently overthrowing the government, like the attack we saw on the Capitol on January 6th."

Voting & Elections

As a state representative, co-sponsored the EDUCATORS for America Act and the American Teacher Act to "provide students, educators, and schools with the resources they need to support a robust education."

Plans to make efforts to help residents with higher education affordability that does not "leave them drowning in student loan debt while they’re building a life here in Ohio."

- As a state representative, co-sponsored the EDUCATORS for America Act and the American Teacher Act to "provide students, educators, and schools with the resources they need to support a robust education."
- Plans to make efforts to help residents with higher education affordability that does not "leave them drowning in student loan debt while they’re building a life here in Ohio."

Education

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Emilia Sykes

Supports keeping taxes low to allow citizens to "save, invest, and spend to meet their needs, and start to grow a business."

- Supports keeping taxes low to allow citizens to "save, invest, and spend to meet their needs, and start to grow a business."

Akron Signal, Kevin Coughlin: Representing a district is about ‘listening to people, even those who don’t agree with you’

Supports transitional housing and mental health services.

- Supports transitional housing and mental health services.

Supports local police and believes current politicians are "soft on crime."

Believes in collaborating with local and state governments to combat crime and drug trafficking.

- Supports local police and believes current politicians are "soft on crime."
- Believes in collaborating with local and state governments to combat crime and drug trafficking.
- Opposes gun control.

Opposes undocumented immigration and wants to "secure the border and close loopholes that allow illegal immigrants who commit a crime to escape justice."

Plans to improve mental health care services for veterans and resources to help them integrate into civilian life.

- Opposes undocumented immigration and wants to "secure the border and close loopholes that allow illegal immigrants who commit a crime to escape justice."
- Plans to improve mental health care services for veterans and resources to help them integrate into civilian life.

Promises to support preservation efforts for the Great Lakes.

Supports policies that boost domestic energy production, including oil, gas, and renewable energy projects, to lower costs for Ohio families and businesses, create jobs, and drive economic growth in Northeast Ohio.

Supports policies that boost domestic energy production, including oil, gas, and renewable energy projects.

- Promises to support preservation efforts for the Great Lakes.
- Supports policies that boost domestic energy production, including oil, gas, and renewable energy projects.

As of May 16, 2025, Kevin Coughlin’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports scholarships for children with special educational needs.

- Supports scholarships for children with special educational needs.

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Kevin Coughlin

- Your US Representative represents the interests of your district in the US House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress. Ohio currently has 15 US Representatives.
- US Representatives can author, sponsor, debate, and vote on bills that become national law.
- Representatives may serve on congressional committees. Committees focus on certain policy areas, such as transportation, education, or labor. They may also run for higher positions within their party, such as the Speaker of the House or Majority/Minority Leader.
- Representatives are elected to two-year terms. To hold this office, a candidate must be a legal resident of Ohio, and have been a citizen of the United States for 7 years. US Representatives are paid a salary of $174,000/year.