A challenge to a freshman congresswoman’s residency is expected to determine whether she could even vote for herself.
District boundaries weren’t just an issue on the ballot in Ohio as questions were raised over where Rep. Emilia Sykes (D) should even be casting hers. After a complaint was filed by Republican activist Tom Zawistowski, a hearing is slated for Thursday to determine whether or not the legislator from the 13th Congressional District lived there.
As reported by the Akron Beacon Journal, Zawistowski had cited a financial disclosure form from Sykes’ husband, Franklin County Commissioner Kevin Boyce, that listed the congresswoman residing with him at their address in Columbus, outside the district.
Her rival for the seat, former Ohio state Sen. Kevin Coughlin (R), contended, “Career politicians like Emilia Sykes think the rules don’t apply to them. She may not even be able to legally vote for herself. Why should we trust her to vote on our behalf in Congress? Voters want true representation for Northeast Ohio, and that’s why they’ll vote Emilia Sykes out this November.”
Career politicians like Emilia Sykes think the rules don’t apply to them. She may not even be able to legally vote for herself. Why should we trust her to vote on our behalf in Congress? Voters want true representation for Northeast Ohio, and that’s why they’ll vote Emilia Sykes… pic.twitter.com/LBOfsBrudm
— Kevin Coughlin (@KevinCoughlin) October 17, 2024
The decision to hold a hearing on the congresswoman’s residency followed a tie-breaking vote from Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R) who favored an investigation following a party line split 2-2 from the Summit County Board of Elections.
Writing to the board, LaRose said, “Here, the Democratic members of the Board submitted a four-page position statement laying out arguments that would be presented and considered at a formal hearing.”
“They conclude that ‘[t]he challenger has not alleged that Congresswoman Sykes has abandoned or failed to maintain her Summit County residence, nor has he alleged that she has chosen to make a habitation (i.e., residence) elsewhere her residence for voting purposes.’ Reaching this conclusion prior to a hearing negates the very purpose of the hearing itself,” he went on, “before which the challenged voter is notified of the meeting and afforded a ‘right to appear and testify, call witnesses, and be represented by counsel.’ In advance of a hearing, the Board also would have the opportunity to seek guidance from its own legal counsel, the county prosecuting attorney, regarding the statutory residency requirements of voter registration.”
LaRose determined the board “had not fully complied with the challenge process required by state law and administrative directive.”
While the Ohio Constitution does not require Sykes to live full-time in her district to represent it in Congress, with the Cook Political Report marking the race as one of 12 Democratic toss-ups, National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Mike Marinella raised questions about Sykes’ commitment to her constituents.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, he said, “Northeast Ohioans are dealing with the unfortunate consequences of Sykes’ extreme policies that have led to open borders, unsafe communities, and a crippled economy — but she would never know because she’d rather be selling out her constituents with her elitist liberal friends in Columbus and Washington. Northeast Ohio deserves better.”
Meanwhile, her campaign manager Maddie Summers asserted, “Emilia Sykes lives in Akron and this desperate lie is an example of how Kevin Coughlin represents everything the voters of Ohio’s 13 Congressional district hate about Politics. Whether it’s the ethics investigation for awarding a government contract to his friend, his obstruction of public record requests, or using taxpayer dollars to pay a campaign supporter, it’s no wonder his own colleagues have called him ‘personally repugnant.’ Northeast Ohioans will reject Coughlin’s pathetic attempt to rob them of their voice.”
The district, once represented by current Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown (D), has long been held by Democrats amid a series of controversial redistricting efforts. Gerrymandering was a key concern heading into Election Day in the Buckeye State as Issue 1, a measure to establish a commission to draw future congressional maps left many concerned it was a scheme to turn the entire state blue.
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