Ohio 13th District Voter Guide: Sykes, Coleman and Dixit on Health Care and Jobs
Three candidates are on the Nov. 3 ballot in Ohio's 13th Congressional District: Democratic U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes of Akron, who has held the seat since January 2023; Republican Carey Coleman, a longtime Northeast Ohio radio host and former TV meteorologist; and independent Sandeep Dixit, an engineer and small business owner. The Digital Free Press voter guide video compares where they stand on health care and jobs.
The district covers all of Summit County, including Akron, plus parts of Stark and Portage counties, WOIO reported. The map was redrawn in 2025, and the new lines favor Democrats by 3 to 4 percentage points, the Akron Beacon Journal reported. Sykes won the seat in 2024 with 51.1 percent of the vote under the old lines, according to Wikipedia's summary of the official results.
Coleman won the Republican primary in May. The redrawn map prompted former state Sen. Kevin Coughlin, the party's 2024 nominee, to withdraw, which made way for Coleman to enter the race, the Beacon Journal reported. Dixit is running without a party label; the Stark County Board of Elections lists him as a non-party candidate.
Why Health Care and Jobs Are Issues in Ohio's 13th District
The Cook Political Report rates the race Likely Democratic in its Oct. 23, 2026 ratings. Inside Elections rates it Solid Democratic, a rating it set on May 8, 2026. Sabato's Crystal Ball lists it as Likely Democratic, as of March 26, 2026, according to Wikipedia's ratings table. The Digital Free Press found no public polling of the race as of Oct. 28.
In Ideastream Public Media's voter guide, Sykes named lowering costs, access to affordable health care and defending Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid as her top priorities. Coleman told Ideastream he will "fight to lower prices from gasoline to food and prescription drugs." Dixit listed skilled-trades education and "a basic healthcare guarantee" among his top three priorities.
On health care, the TDFP video says Sykes "wants lower prescription drug costs and broader access to Medicare and Medicaid" and "supports more investment in medical research and community health services." It says Coleman "supports a best nation prescription drug policy to lower medicine costs" and that on broader affordability, "his platform backs lower federal spending, less regulation, and fewer new taxes and mandates." It says Dixit "wants guaranteed basic health care through low-cost clinics and access to essential treatments" and "wants hospitals and insurers to publish binding prices for common procedures."
On jobs, the video says Sykes "backs workforce training and apprenticeship opportunities." It says Coleman "wants workforce training tied to local employers, more apprenticeships, and manufacturing brought back to Ohio" and "supports lower regulatory barriers for small businesses." It says Dixit "wants more vocational and skilled trades training, artificial intelligence education in public schools, and a higher minimum wage, so full-time work makes living affordable."
Emilia Sykes (Democrat, Incumbent)
Sykes, a former minority leader of the Ohio House, is seeking a third term in Congress, Signal Akron reported. She is the ranking member of the Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, she told Ideastream.
On health care, her House website says she "is working to lower the cost of prescription drugs, expand access to Medicaid and Medicare, and combat health disparities in our communities," and supports "robust investments in critical medical research and healthcare services." In her Ideastream answers, Sykes said: "I voted against Republicans' Big Ugly Bill, which will kick millions of Americans off their health care. I also cosponsored the Health Care Affordability Act, which would make the Affordable Care Act tax credits permanent."
On jobs, Sykes told Ideastream that "workforce training programs not only give workers the technical skills to enter the workforce, but provide investment in the people, opportunities and jobs needed for the long-term success of our communities." She said she has "brought back millions of dollars" in workforce development grants "to support training of workers in manufacturing and the polymer industry here in Summit County."
Carey Coleman (Republican)
Coleman, 67, of Sagamore Hills, is a broadcaster on WNIR radio who for decades also worked as a TV meteorologist, according to his campaign site. He is a first-time candidate. "I am not a puppet of a party," he said at an Akron Press Club event on Oct. 13, Signal Akron reported.
On health care, Coleman told Ideastream that a "'best nation' prescription drug policy will help with the cost of medical care." His campaign site says he supports "reining in out-of-control federal spending" and will "protect middle-class families from new taxes and mandates." Asked at the Press Club event about constituents who rely on Medicaid and food benefits, he said, "I'm here to support the needs of the community, and we will take a look at everything to see how we can give them a helping hand," Signal Akron reported.
On jobs, Coleman's campaign site says he "supports pro-growth tax policies, regulatory reform that lowers barriers for small businesses, workforce training tied directly to local employer needs, and reshoring critical manufacturing and supply chains," and will "expand apprenticeship programs." At the Press Club event he pitched adding polymers to asphalt so roads better survive freeze-thaw cycles, an idea aimed at bringing work back to the Rubber City, and said he wants more routes at Akron-Canton Airport, Signal Akron reported.
Sandeep Dixit (Independent)
Dixit, 58, of Mayfield Village, told Ideastream he came to the United States 37 years ago at age 21. His campaign site says he holds a master's degree from North Carolina State University and an MBA from Cleveland State University, and that he and his wife started a software development and consulting firm in 1996. His campaign slogan is "No Party Extremes. No PACS. Citizens First."
On health care, Dixit's campaign site calls for a basic health care guarantee of "low-cost clinics for everyday care - flu, fever, fractures - and access to essential treatments like insulin," and says he would "require hospitals and insurers to publish real-time, binding prices for common procedures." He told Ideastream he would extend community health clinic hours to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, plus half-days on Saturday.
On jobs, his site lists "STEM and science of AI taught in every Ohio public school," "$500 million per district, in vocational and skilled trades training," and a call to "raise the minimum wage so full-time work makes living affordable." Among the things the site says he will not support: "Bailouts for companies that cut Ohio jobs and move on."
Where to Follow the Candidates
Emilia Sykes: @EmiliaSykesOH on X. Carey Coleman: @colemanforohio on X. Sandeep Dixit: @SandeepForOH13 on X.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Ohio voters can check their registration and district at voteohio.gov. This guide is for information only; The Digital Free Press does not endorse any candidate.
Yossi Schmidt, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Digital Free Press
Hold Everyone Accountable.
Sources: Ideastream Public Media 2026 Voter Guide, U.S. Representative District 13: https://www.ideastream.org/u-s-representative-district-13 ; WOIO Cleveland 19 (Oct. 27, 2026): https://www.cleveland19.com/2026/10/27/democrat-sykes-faces-republican-coleman-independent-dixit-ohios-competitive-13th-district/ ; Signal Akron (Coleman at the Akron Press Club): https://signalakron.org/election-2026-republican-challenger-carey-coleman-house-district-13/ ; Akron Beacon Journal via Yahoo News: https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/oh-13-gop-hopeful-carey-202249864.html ; Rep. Sykes, health care: https://sykes.house.gov/issues/health-care ; Carey Coleman for Congress, issues: https://careycoleman.com/issues/ ; Carey Coleman, about: https://careycoleman.com/about/ ; Sandeep Dixit for Congress, issues: https://www.sandeepdixit.com/issues ; Sandeep Dixit, about: https://www.sandeepdixit.com/about ; Cook Political Report House ratings: https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/house-race-ratings ; Inside Elections House ratings: https://insideelections.com/ratings/house ; Wikipedia, 2026 U.S. House elections in Ohio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_Ohio ; Stark County Board of Elections candidate list: https://www.starkcountyohio.gov/Board%20of%20Elections/Candidates%20List%20General.pdf ; Ohio Secretary of State: https://www.voteohio.gov/
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