Meet the Republican candidates running for Ohio’s 13th Congressional District
Five candidates are running in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District’s Republican Primary to challenge incumbent Ohio Democratic U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes.
The candidates are businesswoman Margaret Briem, former radio host Carey Coleman, Leetonia Mayor Kevin Siembida, medical school graduate Sanjin Drakovac, and businessman Neil Patel.
Republican voters in the Northeast Ohio district will cast their ballots in Ohio’s Primary Election on May 5.
Whoever wins the primary election will face Ohio Democratic U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes, who has served in Congress since 2023. There are no Democratic candidates challenging Sykes.
The Ohio Redistricting Commission unanimously passed a new congressional map in October, increasing the Republican advantage in the state to 12-3. Republicans currently hold 10 out of 15 Ohio U.S. Congressional districts.
The 13th district was redrawn in 2025 to favor Democrats, causing Republican Kevin Coughlin to withdraw from the race. The Cook Political Report labels this district’s race leaning Democrat. The 13th district includes Summit County and parts of Portage and Stark counties.
Midterm elections typically favor the opposite party of the president and the Democrats are trying to gain control of the House.
Briem
Briem is originally from California and now lives in Summit County, where she is retired and homeschools her children, according to her campaign website.
She joined the Army in the 1980s and was assigned to the Army’s 109th Military Intelligence Battalion at Fort Lewis, Washington. She has also fostered children and built a business geared toward helping women entrepreneurs.
“Margaret is pro-border security, pro-guns, pro-life, pro-veterans, and pro-first responders,” according to her campaign website.
Coleman
Coleman is a former radio talk show host for 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 said. “Carey believes Congress must return to fiscal discipline, energy independence, strong national security, and policies that reward work, entrepreneurship, and family stability.”
Siembida
Siembida has been serving as Leetonia village mayor since 2016 and was previously a Leetonia Village Councilman.
“Being mayor teaches you very quickly that results matter more than rhetoric,” Siembida said to the Ohio Capital Journal.
“As a mayor, I have worked to bring accountability to local government and invested in projects that revitalized the community and brought families back into town. That experience gives me a practical understanding of what policies mean on the ground.”
Leetonia is a village in Columbiana County, which is in Ohio’s sixth congressional district and is represented by Ohio Republican U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli.
There is no rule preventing an Ohio resident from running for Congress in an Ohio district they do not live in.
Drakovac
Drakovac is a Northeast Ohio Medical University graduate and he has done medical and political research, according to his campaign website.
“My ideas are focused and centered around helping all Americans have the best quality of life they can and to preserve a pro-America stance,” according to his campaign website.
Patel
Patel facilitated $1.3 billion in foreign investment into Ohio, helped with the Columbus, OH – Ahmedabad, India Sister City 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,” according to his campaign website. “From international boardrooms to grassroots 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 of the Republican candidates, but Siembida and Drakovac were the only candidate who sent back responses. The candidate’s answers to the questionnaire have been shortened for brevity.
Why are you running for Ohio’s 13th congressional district?
Siembida: “I’m running because I’ve seen and experienced firsthand what families in Northeast Ohio are going through and the difficulties they’re facing. … In towns like Akron, Canton, and the smaller communities in between, too many people feel like Washington has forgotten them. Manufacturing jobs have declined, families are stretched thin, and communities that once thrived are fighting to come back. I’m running because this district deserves a representative who understands those struggles firsthand and will fight to bring back economic opportunity, safe communities, and accountable government.”
Drakovac: “I’m running offer people a new political option, that offers a new mix of ideas, in a political system many are unsatisfied with.”
What’s one thing you want voters to know about you that they can’t learn from reading your biography?
Siembida: “I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty and do the hard work required to help my community and my country. … As a mayor, I’m out plowing roads and shoveling sidewalks myself for my constituents. … As the next Congressman, I’m not going to disappear into Washington. You’ll see me out in the district, listening to people and working to solve the problems families in the 13th District face every day.”
Drakovac: “I am pretty passionate about trying to make a difference.”
The Cook Political Report labels this district’s race leaning Democrat. Can you talk about the importance of this race and why it is important for you to flip the district Republican?
Siembida: “The people of the 13th District deserve a representative who understands their priorities: growing good-paying jobs, supporting American manufacturing and energy, keeping our communities safe, and making government accountable again. … Flipping this district is about giving Northeast Ohio a stronger voice in Washington.”
Drakovac: “Some Democrats nationally are going very culturally extreme and we don’t know yet to what degree this district might follow, and I can offer a more culturally moderate position.”