Vernon Sykes News

Today, Ohio Redistricting Commission Co-Chair Sen. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) issued the following statement after majority members of the Ohio Redistricting Commission failed to adopt state legislative maps before the February 17 deadline that comply with all constitutional requirements and reflect the preferences of Ohio voters, as instructed by the Ohio Supreme Court.

Today, Ohio Redistricting Commission Co-Chair Sen. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) and House Minority Leader and Commission member Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) sent a letter to the Republican members of the Commission to request feedback on their state legislative map proposal by 9 a.m. on February 17.

Today, Ohio Redistricting Commission Co-Chair Sen. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) and House Minority Leader and Commission member Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) presented the most recent Democratic state legislative map proposal and reiterated that it is possible to draw fair maps that comply with all constitutional requirements and reflect the preferences of Ohio voters, as instructed by the Ohio Supreme Court.

This week, state Senators Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) and Kirk Schuring (R-Canton) announced that the Ohio Senate unanimously voted to concur on House changes to Senate Bill 105, their bill to create certification reciprocity for Minority Business Enterprise (MBEs), Women-owned Business Enterprise (WBEs) and Veteran-friendly Business Enterprise programs (VBEs). S. B. 105 will be referred to the Governor's office to be signed into law.

Today, state Senator Vernon Sykes (D-Akron), co-chair of the Ohio Redistricting Commission, issued the following statement after the Ohio Supreme Court invalidated the new state legislative maps adopted by the Republican members of the commission on January 22. The Court gave the commission until February 17 to draw new, constitutional maps:

Ohio Redistricting Commission Co-Chair Sen. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) and House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) today filed with the Court opposition to the Attorney General's attempt to relegate them to "amici" status in the lawsuits challenging the state maps. Sen. Sykes and Leader Russo both voted against the newest maps on Jan. 22.

Today, state Senator Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) supported the Ohio Controlling Board's decision to appropriate $172.1 million in federal Covid-19 relief funds for the state's continued pandemic response, which will help reduce health disparities, increase Covid-19 at-home testing, address the teachers' shortage and more.

Ohio Redistricting Commission Co-Chair Sen. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) and House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) today filed with the Ohio Supreme Court a response to the recent objections filed by petitioners against the latest state legislative district maps passed by the Redistricting Commission's five Republican members. Sen. Sykes and Leader Russo both voted against the new maps on Jan. 22.

Today, state Senator Vernon Sykes (D-Akron), co-chair of the Ohio Redistricting Commission, and House Minority Leader-elect and commission member Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington), issued the following statement after releasing a state legislative map on behalf of their caucuses ahead of today's meeting of the Ohio Redistricting Commission:

Today, state Senator Vernon Sykes (D-Akron), co-chair of the Ohio Redistricting Commission, issued the following statement after Republican members of the Ohio Redistricting Commission adopted state legislative maps that disregard the proportionality requirement the Ohio Supreme Court instructed the Commission to comply with and continue to gerrymander Ohio's communities to give Republicans an unearned advantage:

Today, state Senator Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) released the following statement after the Ohio Supreme Court ruled in a 4-3 vote that the congressional maps passed on party lines by the legislature are unconstitutional. The court ordered legislature 30 days to adopt new congressional district maps.

Today, state Senator Vernon Sykes (D-Akron), who served as co-chair of the Ohio Redistricting Commission, and state Representative Emilia Sykes (D- Akron), who also served on the Ohio Redistricting Commission, released the following statement after the Ohio Supreme Court ruled in a 4-3 vote that the state legislative maps passed on party lines by the Commission are unconstitutional. The court ordered the Ohio Redistricting Commission has ten days to adopt new Ohio House and Senate district maps.

Today, state Senator Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) supported the Ohio Controlling Board's decision to appropriate about $78.6 million in federal Covid-19 relief funds for education and Covid-19 vaccine distribution.

Today, state Senator Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) commended the Senate Finance Committee's passage of Senate Bill 148, legislation he introduced to establish the New African Immigrants Grant and Gift Fund. The legislation will allow the New African Immigrants Commission to receive grants, gifts or appropriations from the General Assembly.

Today, state Senator Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) released the following statement after the Senate passed, on a party-line vote, Senate Bill 258 - a congressional district map that continues to gerrymander Ohio's communities:

Today, Ohio Senate Minority Leader Kenny Yuko (D-Richmond Heights) and state Senator Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) presented an amended congressional district map proposal featuring equal-population districts during a meeting of the Ohio Joint Committee on Congressional Redistricting.

Today, state Senator Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) commended the Ohio Controlling Board's decision to appropriate $53.5 million in federal Covid-19 relief funds to support Ohio's continued pandemic response.

Today, Ohio Senate Minority Leader Kenny Yuko (D-Richmond Heights) and state Senator Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) gave sponsor testimony on Senate Bill 237, the Senate Democratic Caucus' congressional district map proposal, during a meeting of the Local Government and Elections Committee.

This week, state Senator Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) urged House Speaker Bob Cupp (R-Lima) to agree to schedule meetings of the Ohio Redistricting Commission to work on congressional redistricting.

Today, state Senator Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) supported the Ohio Controlling Board's decision to appropriate about $262 million in federal Covid-19 relief funds for education and child care response against Covid-19.

Today, Ohio Senate Minority Leader Kenny Yuko (D-Richmond Heights) and state Senator Vernon Sykes (D-Akron), co-chair of the Ohio Redistricting Commission, introduced Senate Bill 237, the Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus' proposal for a congressional district map.

Today, state Senator Vernon Sykes (D-Akron), co-chair of the Ohio Redistricting Commission, released the following statement after the ACLU of Ohio, the American Civil Liberties Union and Covington & Burling LLP filed a lawsuit at the Ohio Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the state legislative maps adopted by the Ohio Redistricting Commission last week:

Today, state Senator Vernon Sykes (D-Akron), co-chair of the Ohio Redistricting Commission, released the following statement after Republican members of the Ohio Redistricting Commission adopted state legislative maps that continue to gerrymander Ohio's communities and give the Republican Party an unearned advantage in the General Assembly:

Ohio Redistricting Commission Co-Chair Sen. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) and House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a joint statement today as the Democratic lawmakers proposed district line changes that would bring the Commission's state legislative district maps closer to Ohio's constitutional requirement for representational fairness. The Democratic Commission members also reiterated their commitment to working together with the Commission's five Republican members on a bipartisan, 10-year plan by the Sept. 15 deadline.

Today, state Senator Vernon Sykes (D-Akron), co-chair of the Ohio Redistricting Commission, released the following statement after a state legislative redistricting plan was presented by Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) and House Speaker Bob Cupp (R-Lima) on behalf of their caucuses during a meeting of the Ohio Redistricting Commission: