Four Nigerian-Americans have secured victories in the November 3, 2026, United States midterm elections, winning elective positions across Maryland, Texas, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania.
The successful candidates are Will Jawando, Junior Ezeonu, Oye Owolewa and Carol Kazeem, who contested under the Democratic Party platform.
Meanwhile, another Nigerian-born candidate, Segun Adeyina, was still awaiting the outcome of his re-election bid in Georgia as vote counting continued.
WILL JAWANDO WINS MARYLAND COUNTY EXECUTIVE RACE
Will Jawando emerged victorious in the race for Montgomery County executive in Maryland, defeating Republican candidate Esther Wells.
According to results published by NBC Washington, Jawando secured 237,383 votes, representing 78.15 per cent, while Wells received 66,383 votes, or 21.85 per cent, with 72 per cent of the expected ballots counted at the time of reporting.
Jawando, 43, previously served on the Montgomery County Council. He is the son of a Nigerian father and an American mother.
JUNIOR EZEONU SECURES TEXAS HOUSE SEAT
In Texas, 27-year-old Junior Ezeonu won a seat in the state’s House of Representatives for District 101.
Ezeonu had earlier defeated incumbent Chris Turner in the Democratic Party primary. He subsequently faced no Republican opponent in the November general election.
Born in Onitsha, Anambra State, Ezeonu relocated to Texas with his family at the age of two.
He was elected to the Grand Prairie City Council in 2021 and later became the youngest mayor pro tempore in the city’s history.
OYE OWOLEWA WINS WASHINGTON DC COUNCIL SEAT
Oye Owolewa secured an at-large seat on the District of Columbia Council in Washington, DC.
Reports by local publication The 51st indicated that Owolewa received 69 per cent of the votes, defeating independent candidate Elissa Silverman, who polled 21 per cent.
Owolewa, a pharmacist, is the son of Nigerian immigrants from Kwara and Osun states.
He previously served as the District’s elected shadow representative, a position that allows its holder to advocate for Washington, DC’s statehood but does not confer voting rights in the United States Congress.
CAROL KAZEEM RETAINS PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE SEAT
Carol Kazeem also recorded a victory, retaining her position in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for District 159.
The Democratic candidate defeated Republican challenger Michael Bannon to secure another term in office.
Kazeem was first elected during the 2022 US midterm elections and was among eight Nigerian-Americans who secured legislative seats in that election cycle.
SEGUN ADEYINA AWAITS GEORGIA ELECTION RESULT
Meanwhile, Nigerian-born Democratic candidate Segun Adeyina was seeking re-election to the Georgia House of Representatives for District 110.
Early results showed Adeyina leading Republican challenger Charles Lollar with 1,353 votes against 689. However, only a small proportion of the estimated votes had been counted at the time of the initial report, leaving the final outcome uncertain.
Adeyina, who first won election to the Georgia House in 2022, represents parts of Gwinnett County. He also serves as the executive director of the Nigerian American Public Advisory Committee, an organisation involved in voter education and registration among immigrant communities.
The US midterm elections are held halfway through a president’s four-year tenure. The 2026 election cycle featured contests for all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the Senate’s 100 seats, alongside various state and local government positions.
The victories recorded by the four Nigerian-Americans further highlight the growing participation and representation of Nigerians and people of Nigerian descent in American politics.
