US Midterms See Historic Wins for Politicians with African Roots

Abdul El-Sayed, a 42-year-old Democrat born to Egyptian immigrant parents, secured a historic victory in the US midterm elections held on November 3. In a playful moment at his post-election rally, he addressed Vice President JD Vance, who had campaigned against him, with the greeting "JD, habibi" or my love. Vance will now swear El-Sayed into office in January as the new Senator for Michigan.

El-Sayed spent much of his campaign defending himself against attacks from conservative media and President Donald Trump, who accused him of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed rejected these allegations, emphasizing his full name, Abdul Rahman Mohammed El-Sayed, to a cheering crowd. He is set to become the first Muslim senator in US history. His campaign strategy relied heavily on social media, using TikTok to connect with younger voters through Gen Z humor and a progressive agenda that included Medicare for All, affordable housing, and reduced corporate influence in politics.

El-Sayed was not the only candidate with African heritage to make history. Melat Kiros, 29, became the first Gen Z woman elected to the US Congress. Born in Ethiopia and raised in Denver, Colorado, Kiros defeated a 15-term incumbent in the Democratic primary before winning a landslide in the general election. She campaigned on issues central to young progressive voters, such as the cost of living, universal childcare, and Medicare for All. Endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America, she has also called for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and an end to US military aid to Israel.

Kiros has faced controversy due to her outspoken criticism of Israel's war in Gaza. She clarified that her criticism is directed at the Israeli state rather than Jewish people. In 2023, she was fired from a major New York law firm after refusing to withdraw an open letter that warned against conflating antisemitism with the geopolitical question of Israel's legitimacy. She stated that this professional setback led her to take politics more seriously.

Adrian Boafo, a 32-year-old second-generation Ghanaian-American, will also join Congress to represent Maryland's 5th District. He succeeds Steny Hoyer, a veteran congressman who retired after a career spanning more than four decades. Boafo, who was born in Virginia and raised in Maryland, began his political career on the Bowie City Council before becoming a state delegate in 2023. His campaign focused on the cost of living, childcare, and protecting federal workers, a significant concern in a district close to Washington DC.

In his victory statement, Boafo noted that representing his constituents had never felt more urgent, citing federal job cuts, rising costs, and the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Meanwhile, Ilhan Omar, 44, won a fifth term in Congress despite an ongoing federal investigation into her immigration paperwork. Federal agents searched her home in October, but Omar has denied wrongdoing and has not been charged. She was first elected in 2018, becoming the first Somali-American and one of the first Muslim women to serve in the chamber.

President Trump has frequently targeted Omar and other Somali immigrants, previously using derogatory language to describe some African countries. In October, his Yemeni-born adviser, Amer Ghalib, stated that the president would refrain from using such language. Beyond the federal level, several other candidates with African roots won in state and local races. Junior Ezeonu, who was born in Nigeria and moved to the US as a child, won a seat in the Texas State House after serving on the Grand Prairie City Council. He is the youngest member of that council.

Carol Kazeem, 34, a Pennsylvania state legislator of Nigerian heritage, retained her seat in District 159. At least four candidates with Nigerian heritage won in the midterms. For many young Africans watching from abroad, these victories serve as a source of inspiration. Social media users in Nigeria and Kenya, where major elections are scheduled for 2027, have shared the results as a glimpse of what a new generation of voters might achieve.