Kenyan-Americans Seek Office in Minnesota Elections
Three candidates of Kenyan descent ran for elective office in Minnesota's November 3, 2026 elections, including a state legislative incumbent.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Huldah Momanyi-Hiltsley won a second term in the Minnesota State Legislature with 71.8% of the vote, defeating Republican Charlie Kistler, who received 28%. Two other Kenyan-American candidates, Samuel Mwangi and Victor Jumah, also sought local city council seats in the same election cycle.
Why it matters
The election results show Kenyan-American candidates winning and competing for office across multiple levels of Minnesota government. Momanyi-Hiltsley's re-election reflects continued voter support for a candidate who first won her District 38A seat in November 2024.
Momanyi-Hiltsley won 71.8% of the vote in the 2026 general election, compared with 28% for Republican challenger Charlie Kistler. The source does not report the final result of Victor Jumah's challenge to incumbent Dan Specht in Ramsey's Ward 3.
The players
Huldah Momanyi-Hiltsley
Kenyan-born Minnesota state legislator representing District 38A, who won a second term in the 2026 general election.
Charlie Kistler
Republican candidate who challenged Momanyi-Hiltsley in the 2026 Minnesota State Legislature race and received 28% of the vote.
The details
Momanyi-Hiltsley, born in Kenya in May 1985, first won the District 38A seat in November 2024. Samuel Mwangi, who has served on Champlin's Environmental Resources Commission since 2021, contested the Champlin City Council Ward 4 seat in a non-partisan special election that drew four candidates.
Timeline
November 2024: Momanyi-Hiltsley first wins Minnesota District 38A seat.
November 3, 2026: Minnesota elections held with Kenyan-American candidates on the ballot.
January 2027: Champlin Ward 4 winner begins serving the remainder of the term through December 31, 2028.
Political Context
Momanyi-Hiltsley first won District 38A in November 2024, and her 2026 re-election with 71.8% of the vote extends that initial victory into a second term. The Champlin race shows the same candidate pool reaching local government, where Samuel Mwangi lost the 2024 Ward 4 contest by 47 votes.
Momanyi-Hiltsley's second term keeps her in the Minnesota State Legislature representing District 38A. The Champlin Ward 4 winner will serve the remainder of the council term from January 2027 through December 31, 2028.
The takeaway
Kenyan-American candidates ran for offices at both state and municipal levels in Minnesota's 2026 elections, with Momanyi-Hiltsley's 71.8% re-election showing a clear result at the state level. Local outcomes in Ramsey and Champlin show that the candidate pool extends beyond the legislature.
Further reading
For more on how these races fit into the state's broader political picture, see Elections coverage in Minnesota.
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