Ohio’s top elections official is rejecting the GOP challenge to a Democratic congressman’s residency

Ohio’s top elections official has dismissed a Republican challenge over the legal residency of one of the state’s Democratic members of Congress.

Secretary of State Frank LaRose made the decision late last week, saying the complaint brought by a political activist had not provided “clear and convincing” evidence that Rep. Emilia Sykes had moved from Akron to her husband’s home in Columbus.

The decision was left up to LaRose after the Summit County Board of Elections tied 2-2 along party lines on Oct. 24 on whether to accept the challenge. The challenge to get residency came in the days before the election because her husband, Franklin County Commissioner Kevin Boyce, had Sykes listed as a member of his Columbus household.

Sykes called the accusation that she doesn’t live in Akron “a very insulting lie.” The couple has said they have separate homes, and Boyce subsequently filed an affidavit with the Ohio Ethics Commission clarifying that his wife lives in Akron.

Ohio law does not require members of Congress to live in their districts.

Sykes, 38, was allowed to cast her ballot in Akron’s November election while she waited for a decision in the case. She defeated Republican Kevin Coughlin to win her second term in a district surrounding that city, where she comes from a family steeped in state politics. Her father, Vernon Sykes, is a sitting state senator and her mother, Barbara, is a former state legislator and statewide candidate.

In a letter sent Friday to the county election board, LaRose noted that Sykes provided proof that she lives at her Akron address and that Boyce submitted the clarifying statement.