Kenyan-American politician Samuel “Sam” Mwangi has been elected to the Champlin City Council in Minnesota, United States, after defeating three opponents in the November 2026 local elections.
Mwangi announced his victory through a post on his official Facebook page, sharing results showing that he had secured 1,178 votes, representing 41.30 per cent of the total votes cast.
“Thanks, it’s official-New Champlin City Council Ward 4 Member. It rained. Thanks for your support, my community. God is Good,” he wrote.
According to the results, Mwangi defeated Lorraine Coan, who finished second with 990 votes, representing 34.71 per cent.
Ryan Reider came third with 393 votes (13.78 per cent), while Charles A. Boakai finished fourth after garnering 273 votes (9.57 per cent).
The results showed that all two precincts in the municipality had reported, giving Mwangi a winning margin of 188 votes over his closest challenger.
His election marks a significant achievement for the Kenyan diaspora community in the United States, which has increasingly seen members venture into elective politics and public leadership.
Mwangi’s victory also marks a successful return to the Ward 4 contest after an unsuccessful attempt in 2024, when he narrowly lost to Tim LaCroix by 47 votes.
In that election, Mwangi garnered 1,294 votes against LaCroix’s 1,341, coming close to securing the council seat.
Before his latest victory, Mwangi had served on Champlin’s Environmental Resources Commission since 2021. He also previously led the Global Fatherhood Foundation.
During his campaign, he prioritised public safety, infrastructure development, responsible management of taxpayers’ money and expanding opportunities for young people.
He also pledged to support local businesses and promote greater community participation in decision-making, positioning his campaign around improving service delivery and strengthening local leadership.
Mwangi was among Kenyan-American candidates who participated in the Minnesota elections held alongside the 2026 US midterm elections.
State Representative Huldah Momanyi-Hiltsley also secured re-election to the Minnesota House of Representatives, retaining her District 38A seat for a second term.
Momanyi-Hiltsley garnered 72 per cent of the vote against Republican challenger Charlie Kistler, who received 28 per cent, extending her stay in the state legislature
