Six politicians of Nigerian origin have secured electoral victories in the November 3, 2026, United States midterm elections, winning positions across Maryland, Texas, Washington, DC, Pennsylvania and Georgia.
The successful politicians are Will Jawando, Junior Ezeonu, Oye Owolewa, Carol Kazeem, Gabe Okoye and Segun Adeyina.
Their victories cover county administration, state legislatures and local government, highlighting the participation of Nigerians and people of Nigerian descent in American politics.
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Will Jawando Wins Montgomery County Executive Race
In Maryland, Democrat Will Jawando won the race for Montgomery County executive, defeating Republican candidate Esther Wells.
Jawando, who previously served on the Montgomery County Council, is the son of a Nigerian father and an American mother.
Results reported by NBC Washington on November 4 showed Jawando with 237,383 votes, representing 78.15 per cent, against Wells’s 66,383 votes, or 21.85 per cent, with 72 per cent of the expected ballots counted at the time.
Jawando will succeed Marc Elrich, who has served as Montgomery County executive since 2018 and was unable to seek another term because of term limits.
Junior Ezeonu Wins Texas State House Seat
In Texas, 27-year-old Junior Ezeonu secured a seat in the state’s House of Representatives for District 101.
Born in Onitsha, Anambra State, Ezeonu moved to the United States with his family when he was two years old.
He secured the Democratic Party’s nomination after defeating incumbent Chris Turner in the party’s primary election. He subsequently faced no Republican challenger in the November general election.
Before his election to the state legislature, Ezeonu served on the Grand Prairie City Council after winning election in 2021. He later became the city’s youngest mayor pro tempore.
Oye Owolewa Wins Washington DC Council Seat
In Washington, DC, Nigerian-American politician Oye Owolewa secured an at-large seat on the District of Columbia Council.
According to local publication The 51st, Owolewa received approximately 69 per cent of the first-choice votes, while independent candidate Elissa Silverman secured about 21 per cent.
Both candidates secured at-large seats on the council, meaning Owolewa’s victory did not result in Silverman’s defeat.
Owolewa is a pharmacist and the son of Nigerian immigrants from Kwara and Osun states. He previously served as the District’s shadow representative to the United States Congress, a position that advocates for DC statehood but does not carry voting rights in Congress.
Carol Kazeem Retains Pennsylvania Legislative Seat
In Pennsylvania, Democrat Carol Kazeem retained her seat in the state’s House of Representatives, representing District 159.
Kazeem defeated Republican challenger Michael Bannon in the November 3 election.
Preliminary election figures published by MultiState Elections showed Kazeem receiving 12,801 votes against Bannon’s 4,109.
She was first elected to the Pennsylvania legislature in 2022 and represents parts of Delaware County.
Gabe Okoye Retains Georgia District 102 Seat
Georgia also recorded a victory for Nigerian-born politician Gabe Okoye, who retained his seat in the state’s House of Representatives for District 102.
Okoye, a Democrat representing parts of Gwinnett County, secured re-election after running unopposed in the general election.
He first won the legislative seat in 2022 and has continued to represent the district.
Segun Adeyina Wins Re-election in Georgia
Another Nigerian-born politician, Segun Adeyina, secured re-election to the Georgia House of Representatives, representing District 110.
Adeyina, a Democrat, defeated Republican challenger Charles Lollar in the contest.
Results reported by Georgia election trackers showed Adeyina receiving approximately 75.6 per cent of the votes, compared with Lollar’s 24.4 per cent.
Adeyina was first elected to the Georgia legislature in 2022. 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.
His victory adds to the representation of Nigerians in Georgia’s state legislature.
What the US Midterm Elections Mean
The United States midterm elections take place halfway through a president’s four-year tenure. They determine the composition of Congress, including all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the Senate’s 100 seats in the 2026 election cycle.
The elections also cover governorships, state legislative positions and several local government offices across the country.
The victories recorded by the six politicians highlight the participation of Nigerians and people of Nigerian descent in American public life, with successful candidates securing opportunities to represent their respective communities at different levels of government.
Some election figures remain subject to official certification by the relevant election authorities.
