Five politicians of Nigerian origin, including Will Jawando, Junior Ezeonu and Oye Owolewa, win political seats in the 2026 US midterm elections
Five Nigerians Win US Midterm Elections, Secure Political Seats
By Newsheadline247
Five politicians of Nigerian origin have secured victories in the November 3, 2026, United States midterm elections, winning positions in local government and state legislatures across Maryland, Texas, Washington DC, Pennsylvania and Georgia.
The electoral successes have further highlighted the growing presence of Nigerians in American politics, with Will Jawando, Junior Ezeonu, Oye Owolewa, Carol Kazeem and Segun Adeyina emerging victorious in their respective contests.
The candidates, who contested under the Democratic Party, secured positions at different levels of government, with their victories spanning county administration, state legislatures and the District of Columbia Council.
In Maryland, Will Jawando won the race for Montgomery County executive, defeating Republican challenger Esther Wells.
Official election results showed Jawando polling 242,676 votes, representing 77.91 per cent of the total, against Wells’ 67,640 votes, or 21.71 per cent, with all 257 election-day precincts reporting.
Jawando, a former at-large member of the Montgomery County Council, had earlier secured the Democratic Party’s nomination in a competitive primary election. His campaign focused on issues including education funding and affordable housing.
In Texas, 27-year-old Junior Ezeonu secured a seat in the State House of Representatives for District 101. Born in Onitsha, Anambra State, Ezeonu moved to the United States at the age of two.
He previously defeated incumbent Chris Turner in the Democratic primary before proceeding to the November general election, where he emerged unopposed after no Republican candidate entered the race.
Ezeonu’s political career includes his election to the Grand Prairie City Council in 2021, after which he became the city’s youngest mayor pro tempore.
In Washington DC, Oye Owolewa secured an at-large seat on the District of Columbia Council, defeating independent candidate Elissa Silverman.
Owolewa reportedly secured approximately 69 per cent of the votes, compared with Silverman’s 21 per cent, in the contest.
Born to Nigerian parents from Kwara and Osun states, Owolewa previously served as the District of Columbia’s shadow representative. He is also a pharmacist who has maintained a strong connection with his Nigerian heritage throughout his political career.
In Pennsylvania, Carol Kazeem retained her seat in the State House of Representatives for District 159 after defeating Republican challenger Michael Bannon.
Kazeem, who first won election to the Pennsylvania legislature in 2022, has continued her representation of the district following the latest electoral contest.
Meanwhile, another Nigerian-born politician, Segun Adeyina, secured re-election to the Georgia House of Representatives for District 110.
Adeyina defeated Republican challenger Charles Lollar, with election results showing him polling 21,696 votes against Lollar’s 6,991 votes.
His victory extends Nigerian representation in the Georgia legislature, where he has served as a Democratic lawmaker.
The latest results underscore the participation of Nigerians and Americans of Nigerian descent in the country’s political institutions, with the successful candidates securing mandates across different jurisdictions and levels of government.
