- Huldah Momanyi Hiltsley has won the DFL primary for Minnesota House District 38A.
- She defeated Wynfred Russell by 261 votes in a closely contested race.
- The victory sends her to the November 3, 2026 general election.
- Momanyi made history in 2024 as the first Kenyan-born person elected to a US state legislature.
- She represents parts of Brooklyn Park and Osseo in Minnesota.
Kenyan-born politician Huldah Momanyi Hiltsley has taken another major step toward retaining her seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives after winning the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) primary for House District 38A.
The primary, held on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, saw Momanyi defeat challenger Wynfred Russell, securing the party nomination and a place on the ballot for the November 3, 2026 general election.
According to the official results, Momanyi won the primary by 261 votes, making it one of the closely watched races within the district.
The contest attracted attention because the two candidates had previously faced each other in the race for the DFL nomination, and this year’s rematch was viewed as an important test of Momanyi’s support within the party.
Her victory means she will once again carry the DFL banner in House District 38A as she seeks another term in office.
Momanyi first gained national and international attention during the 2024 election when she became the first person born in Kenya elected to a state legislature in the United States.
The achievement was celebrated widely within the Kenyan diaspora and among African immigrant communities across the United States, particularly in Minnesota, which has one of the largest East African populations in the country.
She currently represents parts of Brooklyn Park and Osseo in the Minnesota House.
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Momanyi was born in Nyamira County, Kenya, before moving to the United States as a child. Before entering politics, she worked in the technology sector as a data privacy analyst, a professional background that became part of her public profile during her first campaign.
Her transition from technology to public service reflected the growing participation of immigrant professionals in American politics.
Her rise in Minnesota politics has continued to resonate strongly among Kenyans both at home and abroad. Many supporters view her success as evidence that immigrant communities can achieve meaningful representation within American political institutions.
Since her election in 2024, Momanyi has become one of the most prominent Kenyan-born elected officials in the United States.
Although the primary victory strengthens her position, it does not guarantee re-election. Momanyi must still contest the November 3 general election, where voters in House District 38A will decide who represents them in the Minnesota House for the next term.
With the DFL nomination secured, she now turns her focus to the broader campaign as she seeks to extend the historic political journey that began with her groundbreaking victory two years ago.
