Democrat Rep. Emilia Sykes, who is running for re-election in an Ohio district vulnerable for Democrats, faced questions about Vice President Kamala Harris' record on immigration on Tuesday. When asked about Harris' performance as the border czar, Sykes chose not to respond and continued walking, prompting a follow-up question. Despite being reminded that Harris is the vice president, Sykes responded by stating she did not know who Kamala Harris is.
Former Ohio Republican state Sen. Kevin Coughlin, who is running against Sykes in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District, criticized Sykes for endorsing Harris and then pretending not to know her. Coughlin accused Harris, in her role as the Border Czar, of creating a significant humanitarian and security crisis at the border.
In response to the incident, a DCCC Spokesperson highlighted the mispronunciation of Harris' name by the questioner and emphasized the importance of showing respect by pronouncing it correctly. Sykes had endorsed Harris for president just two days before the encounter, expressing her commitment to working with fellow Democrats to support Harris as the nominee.
Sykes, a first-term Democrat who won by a narrow margin in 2022, is defending her seat in a district that includes areas where President Trump had a strong showing in the 2020 election. The Cook Political Report has classified the race as a 'Democrat Toss Up,' indicating a competitive contest ahead.
