Kenyan-American Huldah Momanyi Hiltsley has made history by securing a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives, becoming the first Kenyan-born politician to hold office in the United States.
Running under the Democratic–Farmer–Labor (DFL) Party, she won with 64.78% of the vote to represent Minnesota’s District 38A, which includes the southwestern parts of Brooklyn Park and Osseo.
District 38A is a notably diverse area, with about 66% of residents identifying as people of colour, a large portion of whom are African immigrants.
Hiltsley, a Bethel University alumna, credits her decision to enter politics to her commitment to uplifting her community and advocating for their needs in legislative processes.
She aims to address key issues affecting her constituents, focusing on affordable housing, equitable access to education and healthcare, and creating economic opportunities tailored to the diverse population she represents.
Hiltsley’s journey from Nyamira County, Kenya to the political arena in Minnesota is a testament to her resilience and determination. In an interview, she highlights the stark differences between running for political office in Kenya and the United States.
She notes that in Kenya, voters are often paid to support particular candidates, whereas in the US, candidates must convince voters to back them based on their agenda.
Born in 1985 to Mr and Mrs Philip and Tabitha Momanyi, she moved to the US with her family when she was nine years old. Despite the challenges of being an immigrant and a woman of colour, Hiltsley was confident that her strong campaign team has sacrificed enough to propel her to power.
Her campaign focused on addressing key issues such as safety, equitable housing, and accessible healthcare, with a commitment to representing Minnesota’s most diverse district. As a mother of two, Hiltsley understands the challenges working families face, particularly in securing affordable childcare, and she is determined to create supportive environments for families.
Hiltsley’s campaign employed a data-driven strategy, guided by her Data Director and analyst. This approach, combined with grassroots canvassing and phone banks, was instrumental in her primary success, where she secured 51.3% of the vote against her competitor Wynfred Russell.
