Who's In the Race

Rep. Emilia Strong Sykes (D-OH) is the Democratic incumbent in Ohio's 13th Congressional District, running against Republican Carey Coleman, a Northeast Ohio radio host and former television meteorologist. Independent candidate Sandeep Dixit, an engineer, is also on the ballot. Sykes served eight years in the Ohio House of Representatives for District 34, including three years as House Minority Leader, before winning her congressional seat in 2022. ​

What They Stand For

According to her official House website, Sykes has supported expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit and restoring the Child Tax Credit, saying the tax system should "reward work, not just wealth." She has backed affordable health care, lower prescription-drug costs, and expanded access to Medicaid and Medicare, stating, "Healthcare is a human right." She has also supported making higher education affordable across varied career paths, including trades and technical fields, and has backed higher wages, safer workplaces, and good-paying union jobs. Her stated priorities include protecting Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security while lowering costs and expanding opportunity in Northeast Ohio.

According to his campaign website, Coleman has called for "fiscal discipline," saying he would rein in federal spending and wasteful programs he believes drive inflation. He has supported securing U.S. borders, defending constitutional freedoms, and backing law enforcement. He has also supported giving parents a stronger voice in their children's education rather than "bureaucrats," and has backed energy independence and policies that reward work, entrepreneurship, and family stability.

Dixit, according to his campaign website, has supported training Ohioans for future jobs and making automation "pay this district back," called for guaranteed basic health care and protecting retirement, and backed strict enforcement of environmental regulations and privacy-protection laws.

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

The Cook Political Report rated the race "Likely Democratic" as of Oct. 9. Sabato's Crystal Ball also rated it "Likely Democratic" as of Oct. 11. Inside Elections rated it "Solid Democratic" as of Oct. 2. On Kalshi, traders gave Democrats, whose nominee is Sykes, a 97.19 percent chance of winning as of Oct. 12.

Sykes won the district in 2022 with about 53 percent of the vote and in 2024 with about 51 percent. Republicans held 10 of Ohio's 15 U.S. House seats after both the 2022 and 2024 elections, with Democrats holding five. Donald Trump carried Ohio in the 2024 presidential election with about 55 percent of the vote.

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