Dinah Sykes

For the federal judge, see Diane S. Sykes.

Dinah Sykes
Minority Leader of the Kansas Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 11, 2021
Preceded byAnthony Hensley
Member of the Kansas Senate
from the 21st district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 9, 2017
Preceded byGreg Smith
Personal details
Born (1977-04-10) April 10, 1977 (age 47)
Tennessee, U.S.
Political partyRepublican (before 2018)
Democratic (2018–present)
SpouseJeffrey
Children2
EducationTrevecca Nazarene University (BA)

Dinah Sykes (born April 10, 1977) is an American politician who has served in the Kansas Senate from the 21st district since 2017.[1][2] Since 2021, Sykes has served as the Minority Leader of the Kansas Senate.[3]

Career

Sykes earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Trevecca Nazarene University.[4] She was a stay-at-home mom and personal chef before entering politics.[4] Sykes also served as a PTA president before being elected to the Kansas Senate.[1][5]

Sykes was first elected to the Kansas Senate as a Republican in November 2016. In December 2018, Sykes switched to the Democratic Party along with three other female Kansas legislators—Senator Barbara Bollier, Representative Joy Koesten, and Representative Stephanie Clayton.[5]

In December 2020, Sykes was elected by the Senate Democratic Caucus to be Minority Leader of the Kansas Senate.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Christa Dubill (December 22, 2016). "From PTA President to Kansas Senate, a local mom readies for her new job". Kshb.com. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  2. ^ "Senator Dinah Sykes". Kslegislature.org. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Wu, Andrew Bahl and Titus. "New guard in Senate, status quo in House as state lawmakers pick new leaders". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Hunter Woodall, Moderate candidates try to break away from one another in Kansas Senate race, Kansas City Star (October 25, 2016).
  5. ^ a b Jonathan Shorman, More Kansas lawmakers switch parties: Sykes, Clayton leave GOP, become Democrats, Kansas City Star (December 19, 2018).
Kansas Senate
Preceded by Minority Leader of the Kansas Senate
2021–present 		Incumbent