Samuel Mwangi won a seat on Minnesota’s Champlin City Council in the November 2026 elections.
The Kenyan-born politician secured 1,178 votes in Champlin, earning a council term that begins in January 2027.
Samuel Mwangi wins a seat on Minnesota’s Champlin City Council after two unsuccessful attempts at the same position. The Kenyan-born American politician secured victory in the November 3, 2026 elections.
Results from the Minnesota Secretary of State show Mwangi received 1,178 votes, representing 41.30 per cent of ballots cast. His closest challenger, Lorraine Coan, received 990 votes, leaving Mwangi ahead by 188 votes.
Ryan Reider finished third with 393 votes, while Charles Boakai received 273. Voters also cast 18 write-in ballots, accounting for 0.63 per cent of the total.
Samuel Mwangi wins after earlier council bids
Mwangi previously contested the Champlin council seat in 2020 and 2024, but neither campaign delivered victory. This time, voters gave him a direct role in decisions affecting the city’s residents.
His council responsibilities will include decisions on infrastructure development, public services and community planning. Under the city’s election notice, his term begins in January 2027 and ends on December 31, 2028.
Alongside his political campaigns, Mwangi has served on Champlin’s Environmental Resources Commission since 2021. He has also taken part in community development initiatives.
He previously served as executive director of the Global Fatherhood Foundation. The organisation promotes responsible fatherhood and supports families, adding to his background in community service.
Other Kenyan-American candidates record mixed results
Meanwhile, Kenyan-American politician Huldah Momanyi secured re-election to the Minnesota House of Representatives. She retained her seat with 9,852 votes against Kistler’s 3,840, a margin of 6,012 votes.
Momanyi first made history in 2024 as the first Kenyan-American elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives. Her latest victory therefore returns her to the state legislature, while Mwangi prepares to enter city government.
However, another Kenyan-American candidate, Victor Jumah, lost his bid for the Ramsey City Council Ward 3 seat. Dan Specht won that contest with 2,141 votes against Jumah’s 1,194.
The three candidates contested seats during the November 3 US midterm elections. Their races involved both municipal councils and Minnesota’s state legislature.
