Kenyan-born politician Huldah Momanyi-Hiltsley has secured re-election to the Minnesota House of Representatives, retaining her District 38A seat following Tuesday’s US elections.
Unofficial results released by the Minnesota Secretary of State on November 4 showed Momanyi-Hiltsley receiving 9,852 votes, representing 71.8 per cent of the total, against Republican challenger Charlie Kistler, who garnered 3,840 votes, or 28 per cent.
She is expected to begin a fresh two-year term in January 2027, subject to official certification of the results.
District 38A covers Osseo and parts of Brooklyn Park in Minnesota.
Momanyi-Hiltsley, a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party, was first elected to the Minnesota Legislature in 2024, becoming the first Kenyan-born immigrant to serve in a state legislature in the United States.
Her campaign focused on issues including access to healthcare, reproductive rights, gun legislation and fair housing.
Before the election, she thanked supporters and others who had participated in the campaign, saying she remained grateful regardless of the outcome.
“The polls are closed! But as we wait for the numbers, I want to show my profound gratitude to everyone who had a part to play in this election season, in this fight for our democracy! No matter what happens, I am grateful,” she said.
Born in Kenya, Momanyi-Hiltsley spent her early childhood in the country before relocating to Minnesota with her siblings to reunite with their parents.
She attended Nyambaria Primary School before continuing her education in the United States, where she graduated from Robbinsdale Cooper High School in 2004.
She later attended Bethel University, earning degrees in international business, international relations and reconciliation studies, as well as a Master of Business Administration in Global Business Management.
Before joining elected politics, she worked in corporate compliance, data privacy and data protection in Minnesota.
She has also been involved in community leadership, including serving as the first elected female president of Mwanyagetinge, a Kisii community organisation.
Momanyi-Hiltsley previously contested the Minnesota State Senate District 38 seat in 2022 but was unsuccessful.
