Kenyan-born American Huldah Momanyi has made history by clinching a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives.
Momanyi becomes the first Kenyan-born politician to hold office in the United States of America.
Momanyi was running under the Democratic–Farmer–Labor (DFL) Party.
She won 64.78 per cent of the votes, securing a seat at Minnesota’s District 38A, which includes the southwestern parts of Brooklyn Park and Osseo.
District 38A is a notably diverse area, with about 66 percent of residents identifying as people of colour, a large portion of whom are African immigrants.
Her win for the seat represents a significant milestone in the growing representation of African immigrants in American politics.
Momanyi’s vision for the Minnesota State Senate centers on key issues such as safety, equitable housing, and accessible healthcare.
She looks to champion a pragmatic approach to policy-making that goes beyond political rhetoric.
Earlier on, speaking to the media about the challenges she has faced while vying for the seat, Momanyi revealed that being an immigrant and a woman of color made her campaign a challenge.
“There’s the two-edged sword where my skills, experience, education everything is looked up from a perspective of what do I know are you even qualified,” she revealed.
In the Democratic primary, she secured victory with 51.28 percent of the vote, edging out fellow candidate Wynfred Russell.
Being a mother of two, Momanyi brings personal insight into the challenges faced by working families, particularly regarding affordable childcare.
Momanyi was born in Nyamira County in 1985 to Philip and Tabitha Momanyi.
They moved to the US nine years later. She attained a Master’s degree from Bethel University, Minnesota.
Momanyi attained a Master’s degree from Bethel University, Minnesota.
Meanwhile, the presidential win is leaning towards former President Donald Trump.
Trump so far has won in the state of Georgia, which is one of the determinant states.
