Four politicians of Nigerian descent have emerged victorious in the United States midterm elections, winning elective positions in different parts of the country, while another Nigerian-born contender is awaiting the final outcome of his race.
The successful candidates are Will Jawando, Junior Ezeonu, Oye Owolewa and Carol Kazeem, who won contests in Maryland, Texas, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania during Tuesday’s polls.
In Maryland, Jawando, who contested on the Democratic Party platform, defeated Republican Esther Wells to emerge winner of the Montgomery County executive election. Figures released by NBC Washington put his votes at 237,383, representing 78.15 per cent, while Wells secured 66,383 votes, or 21.85 per cent, with 72 per cent of the expected ballots counted.
Jawando, who previously served as a member of the Montgomery County Council, has Nigerian roots through his father, while his mother is American. His victory marks another significant step in his political career.
In Texas, 27-year-old Junior Ezeonu won election to the state House of Representatives for District 101 after securing the Democratic nomination. His path to victory was uncontested in the November election, as no Republican candidate appeared on the ballot.
Ezeonu was born in Onitsha, Anambra State, but moved to the United States with his family when he was two. He entered local politics in 2021 through his election to the Grand Prairie City Council before becoming the youngest person to occupy the city’s mayor pro tempore position.
Oye Owolewa also secured an at-large position on the District of Columbia Council, polling 69 per cent of the votes to defeat independent candidate Elissa Silverman, who recorded 21 per cent, according to local publication, The 51st.
A pharmacist and son of Nigerian immigrants from Kwara and Osun states, Owolewa previously held the position of Washington, DC’s shadow representative, where he campaigned for statehood without enjoying voting privileges in the US Congress.
In Pennsylvania, Carol Kazeem successfully defended her seat in the state House of Representatives for District 159, defeating Republican Michael Bannon. She had previously made history alongside other Nigerian-Americans who won legislative seats during the 2022 midterm elections.
Meanwhile, attention remained on Georgia, where Nigerian-born incumbent Segun Adeyina was seeking another term in the state House of Representatives. He contested District 110 against Republican Charles Lollar, with early results showing him ahead by 1,353 votes to 689, although only eight per cent of the estimated ballots had been tallied.
Adeyina, first elected in 2022, represents parts of Gwinnett County. Beyond his legislative duties, he heads the Nigerian American Public Advisory Committee, an organisation focused on promoting voter education and registration among immigrant communities.
