Dinah Sykes
Dinah Sykes is an American politician who has served in the Kansas Senate from the 21st district since 2017.Career
Sykes earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Trevecca Nazarene University. She was a stay-at-home mom and personal chef before entering politics. Sykes also served as a PTA president before being elected to the Kansas Senate. She represents a Johnson County district.
Sykes was elected as a Republican, but had a moderate voting record. In October 2017, Sykes wrote an op-ed published in the Washington Post, in which she criticized large-scale tax cut legislation that Kansas Republicans enacted in 2012 for resulting in "nine rounds of budget cuts, stress on state agencies and the inability to effectively provide the core functions of government for our citizens." Sykes urged Congress not to make the same mistake on tax legislation.
In December 2018, Sykes switched to the Democratic Party, stating that: "I am a moderate person who represents a moderate and pragmatic district that expects me to focus on issues and solutions that impact their day-to-day lives. Increasingly, I see the Republican party focusing on issues and approaches that divide our country. I do not agree with that approach." Two other Kansas state legislators—Senator Barbara Bollier and Representative Stephanie Clayton—also left the Republicans and switched to the Democratic Party the same month.
