Critics call Sykes’ voting record on China into question after donations

Critics are questioning Democratic U.S. Rep. Emilia Strong Sykes’ voting record on China, particularly after pointing out $13,500 in donations she received from an investment manager with deep connections to Chinese markets.

Federal Election Commission records confirm Sykes received several contributions from S. Donald Sussman:

• $3,300 on December 31, 2023
• $3,250 on December 31, 2023
• $2,975 on June 29, 2025
• $475 on June 30, 2025
• $3,500 on June 30, 2025

Sussman is the founder and chief investment officer of Paloma Funds and co-founder of New China Capital Management, which acts as an adviser to the Cathay Funds, private equity vehicles making growth capital investments in China’s “private sector.”

Doing business with China is very common among diversified investors, and does not by itself indicate any political intent.

The National Republican Congressional Committee is pointing to Sykes’ voting record, saying it clearly shows her opposition to measures aimed at curbing Chinese influence.

“Socialist Squad member Emilia Sykes is selling out to the Chinese Communist Party, pocketing cash from a billionaire investor tied to China and voting to gut America’s national security,” Zach Bannon said in a statement to Ohio.News. “Ohio deserves better than a CCP sympathizer who emboldens America’s greatest adversary.”

Examples the NRCC highlighted include Sykes’ votes against visa sanctions for CCP members, a Department of Justice indicative targeting of Chinese Communist Party threats, and restrictions on Department of Homeland Security funding to educational institutions aligned with the CCP. The NRCC said she also opposed a motion to impose tax penalties on some foreign-tied political donors and a measure banning tax credits for electric vehicles made in China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.

NRCC Focusing on Sykes

The NRCC isn’t hiding the fact that it wants to unseat Sykes, who represents the 13th District in the Akron area.

Earlier this year, it launched an advertising campaign targeting Sykes and fellow Democratic U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, who represents Ohio’s 9th District in the northwest part of the state, for voting against the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Republicans at the state level could use the upcoming redistricting as an opportunity to create more Republican-friendly districts that would make it harder for Kaptur and Sykes to stay in office.