Voters make their choices in their voting booths on the early voting site. (Photo: Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)
Five candidates are running in the Republican primary for Ohio’s 13th Congressional District to challenge incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes from Ohio.
The candidates are businesswomen Margaret Briem, former radio host Carey Coleman, Leetonia Mayor Kevin Siembida, medical school graduate Sanjina Dracovacand businessman Neil Patel.
Republican voters in northeastern Ohio will cast their ballots in the Ohio primary on May 5.
Whoever wins the primary will face Ohio Democrat Emilia Sykes, who has served in Congress since 2023. There are no Democratic candidates to challenge Sykes.
The Ohio Redistricting Commission passed unanimously up-to-date congress map in October, increasing Republicans edge in the state to 12-3. Republicans currently hold 10 of Ohio’s 15 congressional districts.
In 2025, the 13th District was redrawn in favor of Democrats, causing Republican Kevin Coughlin to withdraw from the race. That’s what the Cook Policy Report puts it district race leaning Democrat. The 13th District includes Summit County and parts of Portage and Stark counties.
Midterm elections typically favor the president’s opposing party, with Democrats trying to take control of the House.
Roundabout
According to her campaign website, Briem is originally from California and currently lives in Summit County, where she is retired and homeschools her children.
In the 1980s, she joined the army and was assigned to The Army’s 109th Military Intelligence Battalion at Fort Lewis, Washington. She also took care of children and founded a company aimed at helping women entrepreneurs.
“Margaret is a supporter of border security, a supporter of guns, a supporter of life, a supporter of veterans and first responders.” according to her campaign website.
Coleman
Coleman is a former radio talk show host WNIR-FM, who previously worked as a television meteorologist both nationally and in Cleveland.
“Carey is running for Congress because Washington has lost touch with the people it serves” – his campaign website he said. “Carey believes Congress must return to fiscal discipline, energy independence, strong national security and policies that reward work, entrepreneurship and family stability.”
I don’t have to
Siembida officiated Mayor of the Village of Leetonia since 2016, and previously served as a Leetonia Village Councilor.
“Being mayor teaches you very quickly that results are more important than rhetoric.” Siembida told the Ohio Capital Journal.
“As mayor, I sought to augment accountability to local governments and invested in projects that revitalized the community and brought families back to the city. This experience gives me practical knowledge of the importance of policy in practice.”
Leetonia is a village in Columbiana County, Ohio’s Sixth Congressional District, represented by Ohio Republican, U.S. Republican Michael Rulli.
There is no law prohibiting an Ohio resident from running for Congress in an Ohio district in which he or she does not reside.
Dracovac
Drakovac is a graduate of Northeast Ohio Medical University and has conducted medical and political research, according to his campaign website.
“My ideas focus on helping all Americans have the best quality of life possible and maintain a pro-American stance,” his campaign website reads.
Patel
Patel has facilitated $1.3 billion in foreign investment in Ohio, helped with the Columbus, Ohio-Ahmedabad, India partnership, and owns and operates hotels in Ohio and West Virginia, according to his campaign website.
“My journey has never been about politics – it has always been about people,” his campaign website said. “From international boardrooms to local community centers, I have dedicated my life to building bridges, opening doors and creating opportunities for those who need them most.”
Questionnaire
The Ohio Capital Journal sent a questionnaire to all Republican Party candidates, but… Siembida and Drakovac were there the only candidate who sent answers. The candidate’s responses to the questionnaire have been condensed for brevity.
Why are you running for Ohio’s 13th congressional district?
I don’t have to: “I am running because I have seen and experienced firsthand what families in Northeast Ohio go through and struggle with. … In cities like Akron, Canton and the smaller communities in between, too many people feel like Washington has forgotten about them. Manufacturing jobs have declined, families are overworked, and communities that once thrived are struggling to come back. I am running because this district deserves a representative who understands these struggles firsthand and will fight to restore economic opportunity, protected communities and accountable government.”
Dracovac: ““I’m running to offer people a up-to-date political option that offers a up-to-date mix of ideas in a political system that many are dissatisfied with.”
What is one thing you want voters to know about you that they can’t learn from your biography?
Siembida:I’m not afraid to get my hands filthy and do the tough work required to aid my community and my country. … As mayor, I myself clear the roads and clear the sidewalks for my constituents. … As the next congressman, I’m not going to disappear into Washington. You will see me around the district, listening to people and working to solve the problems that families in District 13 face every day.”
Dracovac: “I’m very committed to trying to bring about change.”
Cook’s political report calls the Democrat in this district racist. Can you talk about the importance of this race and why it’s significant to you to flip the district Republican?
Siembida:The people of the 13th District deserve a representative who understands their priorities: creating good-paying jobs, supporting American manufacturing and energy, keeping our communities protected and restoring government accountability. … Flipping this district is intended to give Northeast Ohio a stronger voice in Washington.”
Drakovac: “Some Democrats across the country are going very culturally extreme, and we don’t yet know to what extent this district can follow that, so I might propose a more culturally moderate position.”
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