Nigerian-Americans Shine As Four Secure Major Victories In US Midterm Elections

Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting

Four politicians of Nigerian descent have come out victorious in the November 3 US midterm elections, securing seats in different levels of government across Maryland, Texas, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania.

The winners are Will Jawando, Junior Ezeonu, Oye Owolewa and Carol Kazeem, all members of the Democratic Party.

Meanwhile, the race involving Nigerian-born Georgia lawmaker Segun Adeyina remained undecided as vote counting continued.

In Maryland, Jawando won the contest for Montgomery County executive, defeating Republican Esther Wells with 78.15 per cent of the votes, according to figures released by NBC Washington and quoted by Truth Live News Media.

In Texas, 27-year-old Junior Ezeonu secured a seat in the State House of Representatives for District 101.

Born in Onitsha, Anambra State, he previously served on the Grand Prairie City Council, becoming the city’s youngest mayor pro tempore.

Oye Owolewa also secured another term as an at-large member of the Washington, DC Council, polling 69 per cent of the votes against independent candidate Elissa Silverman, who received 21 per cent.

In Pennsylvania, Carol Kazeem successfully retained her seat in the State House of Representatives, representing District 159, defeating Republican challenger Michael Bannon.

However, Segun Adeyina’s re-election bid in Georgia’s House of Representatives was still being determined.

Early results showed him leading Republican challenger Charles Lollar with 1,353 votes against 689, although only eight per cent of estimated ballots had been counted.

Adeyina, who represents District 110, was first elected to the Georgia legislature in 2022.

The victories highlight the growing political presence of Nigerian-Americans in the United States, particularly across state and local governments.

The US midterm elections are held every two years, halfway through a president’s four-year term, determining the composition of Congress and several state and local government positions.