Emilia Sykes

Springfield Township Trustee Jeremy Caudill will not appear on the May 5 Republican primary ballot as a candidate for Ohio's 13th Congressional district, according to a list released by the Summit County Board of Elections.

The board certified the other five Republicans vying to become their party's November challenger to U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes, D-Akron.

The board didn't specify why Caudill wasn't included on the list of certified candidates during its Feb. 17 meeting.

Caudill, who was elected Springfield Township trustee in 2023, owns Melanie Lake (formerly Lake Kim Tam Park), Ohio Championship Wrestling and Bob's Hamburg. He also serves as the Springfield Lakemore Chamber of Commerce president.

Caudill didn't immediately return a request for comment.

Six Republicans filed to run in the May 5 primary by the Feb. 4 filing deadline. Sykes is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Candidates for the race file with the Summit County Board of Elections because it is the district's most populous county.

Here's who's certified for May 5 13th District GOP House primary

The field remains crowded, with five other Republicans vying to compete against Sykes.

Military veteran Margaret Briem, former WNIR-FM talk show host Carey Coleman, self-described "different type of Republican that can appeal to conservatives, moderates and liberals" Sanjin Drakovak, Neil Patel and Leetonia Village Mayor Kevin Siembida will all be on the ballot.

The 13th District was redrawn in 2025 to favor Democrats by a 3% to 4% margin, prompting Republican Kevin Coughlin to withdraw. He battled Sykes for the seat in 2024, coming within striking distance. Previously, it had been classified as one of the few tossup districts in the country, being split nearly 50/50 along party lines.