(NewsNation) — With 51.1% of the vote, NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ has called the race for Ohio’s District 13 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in favor of Rep. Emilia Sykes. See results of U.S. House and U.S. Senate races from around the country here.
The toss-up race between Democratic U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes and Republican challenger Kevin Coughlin was considered one of the most competitive races in both Ohio and the U.S., according to The Cook Political Report.
The race took on national significance given Coughlin’s opportunity to flip a seat for the Republicans, who are attempting to hold onto a slim majority in the U.S. House.
The 13th district covers three counties in northeast Ohio and includes Akron and Canton.
Sykes served for eight years in the Ohio state legislature before being elected to Congress in 2022. Her family has been ingrained in politics for years, both of her parents worked as state lawmakers. Her father, Vernon Sykes, is currently a state senator.
Coughlin has also made a political name for himself in the state, having spent the past 15 years working in both the Ohio House of Representatives and the state Senate.
Coughlin, who left state politics for life as a business executive running a company that advises companies and not-for-profit organizations, said that he is seeking office after becoming frustrated with crime and immigration issues along the U.S. southern border, according to Spectrum News.
In seeking re-election, Sykes focused her attention on issues surrounding the economy, including affordable housing and making sure Ohio residents had access to affordable health care. She also made public safety a priority.
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Coughlin has pegged Sykes for being more liberal than she lets on, according to Signal Akron. Coughlin has also attacked Sykes for not living in District 13 as she is married to a county commissioner in Columbus. However, Sykes is registered to vote in the District, where her campaign is headquartered, the report said.
Heading into Tuesday’s election, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election. Republicans control the chamber with a narrow majority of 220 seats while the Democrats occupy 212 and three vacancies.
