Kenyan-born politician Huldah Momanyi-Hiltsley has won re-election to the Minnesota House of Representatives after securing 71.8 per cent of the vote in the November 3, 2026, general election in the United States.
Momanyi-Hiltsley retained her District 38A seat with 9,852 votes against Republican challenger Charlie Kistler, who received 3,840 votes, according to unofficial election results reported on November 4.
The victory gives the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) politician another two-year mandate representing Osseo and parts of Brooklyn Park in Minnesota, where she will continue serving following the opening of the next legislative session in January 2027.
Her latest victory comes two years after she made history by becoming the first Kenyan-born immigrant elected to a state legislature in the United States, following her successful 2024 campaign.
Momanyi-Hiltsley first won the District 38A seat in November 2024, defeating Republican Brad Olson to become the first Kenyan-American member of the Minnesota House of Representatives.
Following her latest victory, she expressed gratitude to voters and campaign volunteers for their support, saying she was honoured to continue representing the community.
Her re-election campaign focused on healthcare access, affordable housing, social services, protection of immigrant rights and firearm legislation.
During her first term, Momanyi-Hiltsley served on the Housing Finance and Policy, Human Services Finance and Policy, and Legacy Finance committees.
She also championed legislative initiatives covering school safety, renter protections, homelessness prevention, mental health services and support for community organisations.
Among the measures she highlighted from her first term was funding for the African Career Education and Resource organisation, as well as legislation supporting the establishment of a task force on the prevention of female genital mutilation.
Born in Kenya to Philip and Tabitha Momanyi, the politician spent her early childhood in the country before relocating to the United States with her siblings in 1995 to join their parents, who had moved earlier.
Her family originates from Nyamira County, where she began her education before continuing her studies in Minnesota.
She attended Robbinsdale Cooper High School before joining Bethel University, where she earned three bachelor's degrees in international business, international relations and reconciliation studies. She later obtained a Master of Business Administration in Global Business Management from the same institution.
Before joining elective politics, Momanyi-Hiltsley worked in corporate compliance, data privacy and data protection in Minnesota's Twin Cities.
She also developed a record of community leadership, including serving as the first elected female president of Mwanyagetinge, a Kisii community organisation.
Her political ambitions began before her breakthrough in 2024, having unsuccessfully contested the Minnesota State Senate District 38 seat in 2022 under the DFL ticket.
Momanyi-Hiltsley's new mandate will begin in January 2027, subject to certification of the election results by Minnesota authorities.
