USA

African Diaspora Candidates' Results

FILE: As "shadow" U.S. representative for the District of Columbia, Adeoye "Oye" Owolewa, of Nigerian background, is pressing for Washington to become the 51st U.S. state.

UPDATED to correct vote percentage tallied in Maine 120: A number of candidates for federal, state, and local political posts are from the African Diaspora. Here are some of the highlight races.

The 2022 U.S. "midterm" elections [between presidential races] have seen the involvement not only of African-Americans, but also, Africans from the diaspora.

In the nation's capital, Washington, D.C., Nigerian-background Democrat Adeoye Owolewa retains his "Shadow Representative" background by stomping Green Party challenger Joyce Robinson-Paul 84.6% to 15.4% with 98% of the votes counted.

D.C. is represented in Congress by a "delegate" since Washingtonians are denied a seat in the House of Representatives because the District is not a state. Incumbent Democrat Eleanor Holmes-Norton crushed Republican Nelson Rimensnyder 86.9% to 6.1% with 98% votes counted.

In a Texas race for U.S. House, however, Texas-born Democrat Iro Omere, of Nigerian descent, lost to Republican Pat Fallon by 66.8% to 30.9% with 95% of the votes counted.

In Pennsylvania's State House District 159, Nigerian-descent Democrat Carol Kazeem, with 27.5% of the votes counted, was leading Republican Ruth Moton 61.9% to 38.1 percent. This is a low tally count, so results may change, but the initial results show a strong likelihood that Kazeem will win this seat.

In the race for Ohio's State House District 3, Somali immigrant Ismail Mohamed was ahead of his Republican challenger J. Josiah Lannin by roughly 80% - 20%

In Ohio's State House District 9, Somali heritage Democratic candidate Munira Abdullahi ran unopposed.

Colorado's state House District 40 saw Liberian-American Naquetta Ricks top Republican Le Sellers 62% to 36% with 80% of the votes counted.

Georgia's State House District 110 is a lock for Democrat Segun Adeyna. The Nigerian-background politician ran unopposed.

Also running unopposed for Maine's House District 95 is Mana Abdi, a Somali born in a Kenya refugee camp.

In Maine's state House District 120, Somali-born Democrat Deqa Dhalac trounced Republican Michael Dougherty 68% to 32% with 98.9% of the votes counted.

In Maryland's state House District 23, U.S. born Ghanian Adrian Boafo, a Democrat, ran unopposed.

So did Wala Blegay, a Democrat of Liberian/Nigerian background, who ran unopposed for a seat on the Prince George's County, Maryland County Council.

Brooklyn Park, Minnesota has its first Black mayor, Liberian Winfred Russell, in a non-partisan contest, besting Hollies J. Winston by 59.1%

On the Brooklyn Park City Council nonpartisan race, Ethiopian immigrant Teschite Wako lost to Nichole Klonowski 46.58% to 52.99%, respectively.

These results and totals will be updated as fresh data is available.