Four Nigerian-Americans secured electoral victories in the November 3, 2026, United States midterm elections.
The winners include Will Jawando, who was elected Montgomery County Executive in Maryland; 27-year-old Junior Ezeonu, who secured a seat in the Texas House of Representatives; Oye Owolewa, who won a seat on the Council of the District of Columbia; and Carol Kazeem, who retained her position in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Nigerian-Americans who won in the 2026 US elections
Junior Ezeonu: 27-year-old makes history in Texas
At 27, Junior Ezeonu emerged as one of the youngest Nigerian-origin politicians to secure a seat in the 2026 US elections after winning Texas House of Representatives District 101.
The Democrat defeated incumbent Chris Turner in the March 3 Democratic primary, securing 52.6 per cent of the vote against Turner’s 47.4 per cent.
Ezeonu subsequently faced no Republican challenger in the November 3 general election, making him the uncontested winner of the district.
Before his election to the Texas legislature, Ezeonu served on the Grand Prairie City Council and became the city’s youngest mayor pro tem.
Born on March 14, 1999, in Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria, he has built a political profile around issues affecting working families and younger residents.
His policy priorities include increasing public school funding, raising the minimum wage and improving housing affordability.
Will Jawando: Wins Montgomery County Executive election
Will Jawando secured one of the most prominent victories among Nigerian-Americans in the 2026 elections after defeating Republican candidate Esther Wells to become the next Montgomery County Executive in Maryland.
The Democrat won with 242,676 votes, representing 77.91 per cent of the total, against Wells’ 67,640 votes, or 21.71 per cent, according to Maryland election results.
Jawando, 43, previously served as an at-large member of the Montgomery County Council, a position he first won in 2018.
He is the son of a Nigerian father, Olayinka Jawando, and an American mother. He was born and raised in Montgomery County.
Before entering elective politics, Jawando worked as a civil rights lawyer and served in the administration of former US President Barack Obama, where he was involved in public engagement.
His campaign centred on education funding, affordable housing, economic opportunities and making Montgomery County more affordable for residents.
Jawando succeeds outgoing County Executive Marc Elrich, who was barred from seeking another term because of term limits.
Oye Owolewa: Wins Washington DC Council seat
Nigerian-American pharmacist and politician Oye Owolewa won an at-large seat on the Council of the District of Columbia, adding another victory to the growing list of Nigerian-origin politicians in the United States.
Owolewa secured approximately 69% of first-choice votes in the election, finishing ahead of independent candidate Elissa Silverman, who received approximately 21 per cent.
He previously served as Washington DC’s Shadow Representative to the US House of Representatives, a position he used to advocate for statehood and full congressional representation for the District.
Owolewa, whose family has roots in Kwara and Osun states in Nigeria, is a trained pharmacist who has also been involved in community advocacy and political mobilisation.
Carol Kazeem: Retains Pennsylvania House seat
Carol Kazeem retained her position in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, securing another term as the representative for District 159.
The Democrat defeated Republican challenger Mike Bannon Jr in the November 3 election.
Preliminary results showed Kazeem with 12,801 votes against Bannon’s 4,109 votes, giving her a substantial advantage.
Kazeem, first elected in 2022, represents parts of Delaware County in Pennsylvania.
During her time in the state legislature, she has focused on issues including education funding, public health, criminal justice reform and improving access to community resources.
Her legislative work has also included advocacy around addressing substance abuse through public health interventions and strengthening support for underserved communities.
Kazeem’s victory is particularly notable because she is among the Nigerian-Americans who have successfully moved beyond initial electoral breakthroughs to establish a sustained presence in American state politics.
Segun Adeyina: Wins re-election in Georgia
Segun Adeyina also secured victory in Georgia, retaining his seat in the state’s House of Representatives for District 110.
The incumbent Democrat defeated Republican challenger Charles Lollar in the November 3 election.
Final election figures reported by Ballotpedia showed Adeyina with 21,696 votes, representing 75.6 per cent of the vote.
Adeyina has represented District 110 since 2023 and has been involved in legislative work covering education, technology, infrastructure and creative industries.
His committee assignments during the 2025–2026 legislative session included the Education Committee, Technology and Infrastructure Innovation Committee, and Creative Arts and Entertainment Committee.
