14 Nigerian-Americans Win in US Midterm Elections

The US midterm elections on Tuesday saw many Nigerian-Americans win seats in state legislatures across different states.

Some also won local government positions.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, named 14 Nigerian-Americans among the winners of the state elections.

Their wins cover states like Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, Ohio, Texas, Connecticut, Michigan, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Washington. The winners came from various levels of government.

Mrs Dabiri-Erewa congratulated them in a post on X on Wednesday.

“Hearty congratulations to Nigerian Americans who won elections in the US. Wishing all of them great success,” Ms Dabiri-Erewa said.

Among the winners are Segun Adeyina and Gabe Okoye, who won seats in the Georgia House of Representatives for Districts 110 and 102.

Carol Kazeem, another Nigerian-American politician, kept her seat as the representative of Pennsylvania House District in these midterms.

She first won in the midterm elections of 2022. This time, the Democrat defeated Republican candidate Michael Bannon.

Two other Democrats, Solomon Adesanya and Phil Olaleye, won seats in Georgia’s 43rd and 59th districts.

In Maryland, Democrat Will Jawando won the Montgomery County executive position. He beat Republican candidate Esther Wells.

Jawando, a long-time at-large County Council member, outperformed council colleagues Andrew Friedson and Evan Glass in a tough primary. He campaigned on improving education funding and affordable housing. The 43-year-old had a heart attack in early September.

Another Nigerian, Esther Agbaje, ran under the Democratic Party and won a seat in the Minnesota House representing District 59B.

Ukeme Awakessien-Jeter, a Democrat, won Ohio’s House District 7.

Junior Ezeonu, also a Democrat, won Texas House District 101 after defeating Chris Turner in the Primary. He had no Republican opponent in the midterm.

The list also includes Olaleye Onikuyide, who won Connecticut House District 19.

Nigerian-American Democratic candidate Justin Onwenu won Michigan State Senate District 1.

Janelle Anyanonu, also a Democrat, won New Mexico’s House District 19.

Others include Odus Evbagharu, who secured Texas House District 135, and Oye Owolewa, who won an at-large seat on the Washington Council.