African-rooted candidates win seats in US midterms

By Chibuzor Alli

Candidates of African heritage have secured significant victories in the 2026 United States midterm elections, with Egyptian-American Abdul El-Sayed breaking new ground in the Senate and several others winning seats in the House of Representatives.

The outcomes highlight the growing presence of African-descended politicians in American public life, although Nigerian-American Republican candidate Ndidiamaka “Didi” Okpareke fell short in her bid to represent New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District.

El-Sayed, 42, won Michigan’s open Senate seat against Republican Mike Rogers, becoming the first Muslim elected to the United States Senate, according to media projections.

A former director of the Detroit Health Department, El-Sayed campaigned on progressive policies, including universal healthcare, economic reforms and changes to the country’s immigration system. His religion and criticism of Israel also became contentious issues during the campaign. <Cite refs={[“turn101916news32″,”turn101916search2”]}/>

Another breakthrough came in Colorado, where 29-year-old Ethiopian-born Melat Kiros won the 1st Congressional District seat after defeating long-serving Democratic lawmaker Diana DeGette in the party’s primary earlier in the year.

Kiros, who was born in Addis Ababa to Tigrayan parents, attracted national attention during her campaign for challenging established political interests and opposing the influence of money in politics. <Cite refs={[“turn101916search10″,”turn101916search3”]}/>

In Maryland, Ghanaian-American Adrian Boafo also secured victory in the 5th Congressional District, winning the seat with 68.5 per cent of the vote.

The 32-year-old previously served on the Bowie City Council and in the Maryland House of Delegates. He also worked as a campaign manager for former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, whose departure created an opening in the district. <Cite refs={[“turn101916search3″,”turn101916search6”]}/>

Nigerian-American candidate falls short

While several African-descended candidates recorded victories, Okpareke’s campaign ended in defeat against Democratic incumbent Melanie Stansbury in New Mexico.

The 43-year-old pharmacist, whose parents emigrated from Nigeria, contested the election as a Republican, seeking to become the first Black woman to represent New Mexico in the US House of Representatives.

Born in California, Okpareke grew up with accounts of her parents’ experiences during the 1967–1970 Nigerian Civil War. Her family eventually settled in Albuquerque in 1997, where she attended Sandia High School before earning a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of New Mexico.

Her campaign focused on affordability, economic opportunities, healthcare costs and government support for low-income households.

“I’m a pharmacist, a mother of three, and the daughter of Nigerian immigrants. I’m running because we need adequate representation at the table so we can pull our communities forward,” she said.

However, she lost to Stansbury, who secured 63.5 per cent of the vote against Okpareke’s 36.5 per cent, according to preliminary results published by New Mexico’s Secretary of State. <Cite refs={[“turn942338search1″,”turn942338search2”]}/>

African-origin lawmakers retain congressional seats

The elections also saw incumbent lawmakers of African heritage retain their positions in the House.

Somali-American Ilhan Omar won a fifth term representing Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, defeating Republican challenger John Nagel.

Omar, who was born in Mogadishu, Somalia, became the first Somali-American elected to Congress in 2018. Her re-election campaign unfolded amid renewed political attacks from President Donald Trump against her and Somali-American communities. <Cite refs={[“turn388545search1″,”turn388545search3″,”turn388545search5”]}/>

Eritrean-American Joe Neguse also retained his Colorado congressional seat. First elected in 2018, he has risen through the Democratic Party’s leadership ranks to become assistant House Democratic leader and serves on the House Natural Resources Committee. <Cite refs={[“turn101916search3″,”turn101916search6”]}/>

Similarly, Ghanaian-Liberian American Gabe Amo secured another term representing Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District.

Amo, 38, became the first Black person elected to the US House from Rhode Island when he entered Congress in 2023. Before his election, he worked in the administrations of former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. <Cite refs={[“turn388545search7″,”turn388545search11”]}/>

Jamaican-American Yvette Clarke, who represents Brooklyn, New York, was also seeking re-election. Her parents emigrated from Jamaica, and she chairs the Congressional Black Caucus.

The growing participation of politicians with African and Caribbean heritage in American elections reflects the expanding role of diaspora communities in the country’s political landscape.

Their presence in Congress also brings greater attention to issues affecting immigrant communities, alongside debates on immigration policy, international relations, trade and US engagement with African countries.