Kenyan-born politician Samuel “Sam” Mwangi has been elected to the Champlin City Council in Minnesota, United States, after defeating three opponents in the November 3, 2026, special election.
Mwangi secured 1,178 votes, representing 41.30 per cent of the total ballots cast, according to unofficial results published by the City of Champlin.
His closest challenger, Lorraine Coan, received 990 votes (34.71 per cent), while Ryan Reider came third with 393 votes (13.78 per cent). Charles A. Boakai finished fourth with 273 votes (9.57 per cent). A further 18 votes were recorded as write-ins.
The results gave Mwangi a winning margin of 188 votes over Coan, with all two precincts in Ward 4 reporting their results.
Mwangi’s victory marks a successful return to the contest after narrowly losing the same seat in 2024. He received 1,294 votes against Tim LaCroix’s 1,341, falling short by 47 votes.
Before his election, Mwangi served on Champlin’s Environmental Resources Commission from 2021. He also previously led the Global Fatherhood Foundation, an organisation involved in promoting responsible fatherhood and supporting families.
During his campaign, he focused on public safety, infrastructure development, responsible management of public funds and creating opportunities for young people.
He also pledged to support local businesses and strengthen residents’ participation in decisions affecting their communities.
According to the City of Champlin, the Ward 4 special election was held to fill a council vacancy for a two-year term. The elected member is expected to serve from January 2027 through December 31, 2028.
The city has indicated that the results remain unofficial pending canvassing by the Champlin City Council scheduled for November 9.
Mwangi was among Kenyan-American candidates who contested positions in Minnesota during the November elections. State Representative Huldah Momanyi-Hiltsley also retained her District 38A seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives.
