From the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate to a Gen Z woman breaking new ground in Congress, candidates with African heritage have secured victories across national, state and local government

The 2026 midterm elections in the United States have brought several historic breakthroughs for Americans with African roots, with new lawmakers entering Congress and others winning positions in state and local government.

A historic Senate first

Among the most notable victories was that of Abdul El-Sayed, 42, who defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s Senate race. The son of Egyptian immigrants will become the first Muslim to serve in the U.S. Senate when he takes office in January 2027.

New faces in the House

In Colorado, 29-year-old Melat Kiros won the state’s 1st Congressional District, becoming the first Black woman to represent Colorado in the House. Born in Ethiopia and raised in the United States, she is also the first Generation Z woman elected to Congress.

Ghanaian American Adrian Boafo, 32, won Maryland’s 5th Congressional District, succeeding retiring veteran lawmaker Steny Hoyer.

In New Jersey, Egyptian-born former U.S. Army combat surgeon Adam Hamawy won the 12th District seat, becoming the state’s first Muslim member of Congress.

Somali-born Ilhan Omar retained her Minnesota congressional seat, securing a fifth term after first entering the House in 2019.

Wins in state and local government

Other victories came at the state and local levels. In Texas, Junior Ezeonu won the District 101 seat in the state House, while Pennsylvania lawmaker Carol Kazeem secured another term.

Maryland voters elected Nigerian American Will Jawando as Montgomery County executive, and Oye Owolewa won an at-large seat on the D.C. Council.

The results span different generations, backgrounds and levels of government.