Abdul El-Sayed, Melat Kiros, Adrian Boafo: The politicians with African roots making history in the US midterms

Adrian Boafo, meanwhile, a second-generation Ghanaian-American, will represent Maryland’s 5th Congressional District after succeeding veteran Congressman Steny Hoyer, who retired after a political career spanning more than four decades.

The 32-year-old was born in Virginia and raised in Prince George’s County, Maryland. His parents immigrated to the US from Ghana.

Boafo’s route to Congress began in local politics. He served on the Bowie City Council before becoming a Maryland state delegate in 2023. He also worked for Hoyer before eventually winning the race to replace him.

His campaign focused on the cost of living, childcare and protecting federal workers, a major issue in a district close to Washington DC and home to thousands of government employees.

In his victory statement, Boafo said representing his constituents had “never felt more urgent”, pointing to federal job cuts, rising costs and the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

Among those returning to Congress is Somali-born Ilhan Omar, 44, who won a fifth term despite an ongoing federal investigation.

Federal agents searched her Washington home in October as part of an investigation into her immigration paperwork. Omar has denied wrongdoing and has not been charged with a crime.

First elected to Congress in 2018, Omar became the first Somali-American and one of the first Muslim women to serve in the chamber. She has also been a frequent target of President Trump, who has repeatedly criticised her and other Somali immigrants.

Trump has previously used derogatory language to describe some African countries, including Somalia. In October, his Yemeni-born adviser Amer Ghalib said the president would refrain from using such language.

Others made their breakthroughs in state and local politics.

Junior Ezeonu was born in Nigeria and moved to the US as a young child. By 27, he had already become Grand Prairie’s youngest city council member before winning a seat in the Texas State House.

Then there is Carol Kazeem, 34, a Pennsylvania state legislator of Nigerian heritage who has retained her seat at District 159. At least four candidates with Nigerian heritage won in the 3 November midterms.

For some young Africans watching from across the Atlantic, these victories have offered a glimpse of what a new generation of voters could achieve at home.

On social media, users have shared the election results as a source of inspiration, particularly in Nigeria and Kenya, where major elections are due in 2027.