Four Nigerian-Americans win US midterm elections

Four Nigerian-Americans won elective positions in the United States during the midterm elections on November 3.

The winners secured roles in local government and state legislatures across Maryland, Texas, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania. Will Jawando won the race for Montgomery County executive in Maryland. He received 237,383 votes, which accounted for 78.15 per cent of the count at the time the results were published. Jawando previously served on the Montgomery County Council.

In Texas, 27-year-old Junior Ezeonu secured a seat in the state House of Representatives for District 101. He was the only candidate on the ballot for the general election after no Republican entered the race. Ezeonu previously served on the Grand Prairie City Council and was the city's youngest mayor pro tempore. Oye Owolewa won an at-large seat on the District of Columbia Council in Washington, DC. He received 69 per cent of the vote against an independent candidate.

The position allows the holder to advocate for statehood for Washington, DC, but does not grant voting rights in the US Congress. Carol Kazeem also won her seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for District 159. The outcome of a contest for Segun Adeyina in Georgia remained pending as officials continued to count votes.