Kenyan-born politician Huldah Momanyi-Hiltsley has secured a second term in the Minnesota House of Representatives after defeating her Republican challenger in the November 3 US mid-term elections.
Momanyi-Hiltsley, who represents the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party, garnered 9,852 votes, representing 71.8 per cent, against Republican candidate Charlie Kistler, who received 3,840 votes (28 per cent), according to unofficial results reported by Hometown Source.
In her victory speech, the legislator thanked voters, campaign volunteers and supporters for helping her secure another term, describing the win as an opportunity to continue serving her constituents.
“You have sent me back to the Minnesota House! I am deeply grateful for your trust, your votes, and every volunteer and supporter who helped make this victory possible. Serving you is an honor, and I’m ready to keep working for our community,” she said.
The re-elected lawmaker also spoke about the challenges she encountered during the campaign, revealing that she and members of her political team had faced personal attacks and attempts to undermine their reputations.
“There is character assassination, people coming after us, talking all sorts of stuff. But we stuck it out,” she said.
She further disclosed that the campaign had been marked by uncertainty and difficult moments, with members of her team sometimes questioning whether they would overcome the challenges.
“There have been sleepless nights. Long nights where we were like, are we going to make it through?” she added.
Momanyi-Hiltsley will serve another two-year term representing Minnesota House District 38A, which covers the city of Osseo and parts of Brooklyn Park. Her new term is expected to begin in January 2027, subject to certification of the election results.
Her re-election adds to her political milestone after she made history in November 2024 by becoming the first Kenyan-American elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives and the first Kenyan-born immigrant to hold state office anywhere in the United States.
She first won the District 38A seat in 2024 after defeating Republican candidate Brad Olson.
During her latest campaign, Momanyi-Hiltsley prioritised access to healthcare, reproductive rights, firearm legislation and equitable housing.
