When Rep. Emilia Sykes showed off her balance beam skills in a new campaign ad last week, it was a nod to both the opening of the Olympic Games in Paris and her childhood.

She grew up dancing and competing in gymnastics, landing a spot in the AAU Junior Olympics and excelling at vault. Now the Democrat represents Ohio’s 13th District — which, as she’s quick to point out, sent three athletes to Paris this summer, including LeBron James, “the greatest basketball player of all time.” 

Instead of becoming a professional ballerina, Sykes followed in her parents’ footsteps and ran for the state legislature, winning a seat that both her father and mother once held. After a combined 39 years of a Sykes representing Akron in the Ohio House, she ran for Congress in 2022 and is currently seeking reelection in a closely watched race against former state legislator Kevin Coughlin.

Sykes sat down with Roll Call last month to discuss her dance dreams, being an “introvert” and living by her sorority’s motto of “service to all mankind.” This interview has been edited and condensed.

Q: Politics is the family business. What did you learn from watching your parents?

A: I’d say that public service is the family business, and that includes my sister, who is a public school teacher and now administrator. And what they’ve always instilled in me is to remember why you are in the job and how you got there. 

And that means the people of our community are hands down, bar none, the most important part, and meeting their needs and addressing their wants and desires and concerns is what my top priority needs to be all the time. If you take care of the people, they’ll take care of you. 

I think that’s why we’ve been able to have such political success, because our community knows that we truly care about them. And even if we don’t agree on everything, I make myself available to explain why I am where I am and listen to opposing sides. 

Q: You’ve said that elected office wasn’t your calling at first as you were growing up. What changed?

A: My goal was to be the principal dancer for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. So, as you can see, I have a little ballerina here that I keep [in my office] as a nod to remembering that. It was a very different stage that I wanted to be on, and this one is great too.

I went to law school and grad school and wanted to find my way in health policy work, and there really isn’t anything better to do than be a member of Congress or a state legislator to help lead in that area.

I think there are some preconceived notions of what it’s like to be an elected official. But I’m an introvert, and so I am usually a quieter, “let’s work behind the scenes in small groups” kind of person — and really, just do the work.

Q: I saw an Alpha Kappa Alpha pillow in your office. How excited are you about an AKA sister, Kamala Harris, potentially becoming president?

A: I’m excited that we have an experienced and formidable and intelligent woman who is going to be on the top of the ticket. I think the vice president shares many of the values of my sisterhood, which is service to all mankind. 

That is our motto, and it is really important to me as a member of Congress, as well as my sorority sisters all across the world. We joined the organization so that we could serve our communities, and some people do it in education, some do it in health care, some do it in politics.

Q: You’re one of the few Black politicians in the House who represents a majority-white district, and you’ve faced some negative attack ads.

A: I have the benefit of unfortunately watching my mother go through it, and so it wasn’t as big of a shock to me as maybe other candidates when you realize how ferocious these attacks can be. But that doesn’t make you feel any better about it when you finally see it. And of course, it’s always your friends and your family, they call and they are tearful and emotional: Why would somebody do this? Why would somebody say this about you, all these lies? 

I just have to remind myself that our work will speak for itself. But when we need to be louder and make sure that people understand who I am and the value that I bring to this job, it just means that we have to work twice as hard. The NRCC, for example, spent a lot of money to make sure people knew what I look like, or knew what I look like when my hair wasn’t straightened, to create these stereotypes of me being something they should be afraid of. 

What helps me is I’m from the community, and people have seen me navigate really difficult challenges gracefully but with strength. And so that allowed people to say, “This is Emilia, and we know Emilia.” 

Q: You worked with Donald Trump’s pick for vice president, JD Vance, on rail safety issues after the East Palestine derailment. What are your thoughts about him?

A: I haven’t gotten to know him as well as the House members on the other side of the aisle. But I’ve always found it to be a much more valuable experience, not only for my constituents but for me professionally, to work with anyone who is in a position of influence. And so I welcome the opportunity to work with Sen. Vance if he becomes the vice president, and I’m also more than happy to work with whoever is the VP pick for Vice President Harris as she ascends into the presidency as well.

But it doesn’t really matter who the person is. It is the job that we have to do and the results that are oriented to our community. I’m always going to be focused on my constituents in the district and getting meaningful results for them.

Quick hits

Last book you read? I’m about halfway through “The First Ladies.” It’s historical fiction about first lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary McLeod Bethune and their unlikely friendship around women’s leadership and education and civil rights. 

In politics, can the ends justify the means? No. 

What is your least popular opinion? LeBron James is the greatest basketball player of all time. I’ve had a few squabbles, if you will, with some folks [on Capitol Hill].

Of all the things displayed in your office, which is the most meaningful? The thank-you notes. They’re from constituents, from mayors for helping them get community project funding, or from interns who enjoyed their time and fell in love with government.

Best friend across the aisle? It’s been really good to know the Republicans from our Ohio delegation, [like] Mike Carey and Max Miller and Dave Joyce, and I’m getting to know Mike Rulli.