Hey, John, have you seen this photo before?

That's me, Emilia Sykes, and my mom, Barbara.

Not long after this photo was taken, she became the first Black woman to serve on the Akron City Council.

While my mom was breaking glass ceilings and changing our community for the better, I was training to be a ballerina — intent on forging my own path.

But years later, I followed in her footsteps and became the first Black woman under 30 elected to the Ohio legislature and eventually the first Black person ever elected to represent Ohio’s 13th Congressional District.

Watching my mom fight to become the “first” gave me the strength to do the same in Congress. And since my first election, I’ve been a top target for the GOP.

I’ve had to beat back nonstop attacks from Republicans hoping to flip Ohio red, but I refuse to give up. Ohioans deserve access to healthcare and low prices, but I can’t keep fighting without your support.

I laid the groundwork to protect this seat in 2025, and now it’s time to continue this work in 2026 — but I can't do it alone. With tomorrow’s mid-month deadline fast approaching, will you please chip in $5 or more toward our $15,000 goal to help me keep fighting for OH-13?

Thank you for standing with me. I’m proud to be in this fight together.

— Emilia Sykes