AKRON, Ohio (AP) — A county elections board deadlocked Thursday about whether a Democratic member of Congress from Ohio resides in her Akron district, sending the matter before the state's Republican secretary of state to break the tie.
U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes described the challenge to her residency, brought by a Republican political activist, as “a deeply offensive lie,” and proceeded to cast her early vote after the hearing and to encourage others to do the same. She faces GOP nominee Kevin Coughlin in the Nov. 5 election, a contest considered among the nation’s tightest House races.
Both of the Democrats on the Summit County Board of Elections voted against the challenge while the the two Republicans supported it. The case does not affect Sykes' candidacy and board members seemed to agree that nothing currently was stopping Sykes from legally voting for herself in Akron.
Sykes, a first-term member of Congress, did not attend the meeting but submitted a three-page affidavit. She says she has lived on North Howard Street in Akron for 11 years, her driver's license lists that address, her congressional pay stubs are addressed to her there, she attends church nearby and she usually returns to that property when not in Washington, D.C.
The dispute centers around a form filled out earlier this year by her husband, Kevin Boyce, that said she was part of his household in Columbus. He is an elected member of the Franklin County Board of Commissioners in Columbus, which is about 130 miles (209 kilometers) southwest of Akron.
Boyce in late September told the Summit Board of Elections that Sykes does not, in fact, reside with him in Franklin County.
“There's nothing wrong with that, for spouses to have different residences,” her lawyer, Don McTigue, argued to the elections board Thursday. "I hope that we’re well past the day when we are going to make assumptions that a woman’s residence is where her husband lives, or vice versa.”
The Republicans and the Democrats on the board each have two weeks to send a letter about the matter to Secretary of State Frank LaRose, so the dispute almost certainly will not be resolved before the election.
FILE - Rep.-elect Emilia Sykes, D-Ohio, joins other newly-elected members of the House of Representatives as they arrive at the Capitol for an orientation program in Washington, Nov. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
Michigan State (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten) at Michigan (4-3, 2-2), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (BTN)
BetMGM College Football Odds: Michigan by 3 1/2.
Series record: Michigan leads 73-38-5
Potentially, a bowl bid for both teams. If the defending champion Wolverines lose, they will likely have to pull off an upset in one of three games against top-ranked Oregon, No. 13 Indiana and No. 4 Ohio State to be eligible for postseason play and beat Northwestern at home. If the Spartans win, they will be in a favorable position to pick up a sixth win perhaps against Purdue or Rutgers.
Michigan's running game against Michigan State's defense. The Wolverines simply can't throw the ball effectively, giving three quarterbacks a chance to start without success. They will likely try to win by running the ball early and often. The Spartans are giving up 131 yards rushing per game, ranking 12th in the Big Ten and 53 in FBS.
Michigan State WR Nick Marsh. He was named the Big Ten freshman of the week for the second time after matching his career high with eight catches and having 113 yards receiving in last week's win over Iowa. Marsh is 58 yards away from breaking Cody White's true freshman single-season mark of 490 yards receiving in 2017.
Michigan RB Kalel Mullings. He will probably carry the heaviest load in a run-heavy attack. Mullings, who has been more effective than Donovan Edwards, leads the team with 676 yards on 110 carries with seven touchdowns. The converted linebacker runs with power and surprising speed.
Both teams are led by first-year coaches: Michigan's Sherrone Moore and Michigan State's Jonathan Smith. ... The last time Michigan State played at Michigan, a skirmish broke out in the tunnel after the game. Seven Spartans were charged with crimes, Michigan State was fined $100,000 for players “hitting, kicking or using of their helmet” to hit Michigan players and the Big Ten reprimanded Michigan for failing to “provide adequate protection for personnel of both home and visiting teams when entering and leaving playing arenas,” per conference policy. ... Michigan has lost as many games this season as it did the previous three years combined under former coach Jim Harbaugh. ... Michigan State is a win away from surpassing last season's total under fired coach Mel Tucker and interim coach Harlon Barnett.
AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore puts his head down in a news conference after his team's 21-7 loss to Illinois in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
