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Huldah Momanyi Hiltsley has made history as the first Kenyan-born individual to win a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives in the recent U.S. elections. Running as a candidate for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, Huldah has become the first Kenyan immigrant to be elected to a state legislature, where she will represent District 38A.
Born in 1985 in Kenya, Huldah moved to the United States at the age of 9 with her family, who had immigrated as part of the first generation of Kenyan settlers. The family has lived in Minnesota and Brooklyn for over 20 years. Huldah is married to Bart Hiltsley and has two children, Jaydah Rae and Jordan Philip. Her election victory has garnered widespread support from both the U.S. and Kenya, with many congratulatory messages flooding in from Kenyan citizens.
Her achievement is a significant milestone, with figures such as Anita Soina, Joan Kanini, and Esther Muthoni Passaris praising her success. Passaris noted Huldah’s win as a proud moment for Kenya and the Kenyan diaspora in the U.S.
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Huldah secured 64.78% of the vote to win the District 38A seat, which covers the southwestern parts of Brooklyn Park and Osseo. The district is known for its diversity, with 66% of residents identifying as people of color, including a large population of African immigrants. Her victory marks an important step toward increased African immigrant representation in American politics.
In her campaign, Huldah focused on issues such as safety, affordable housing, and accessible healthcare. She emphasized a practical approach to policy-making that goes beyond political rhetoric. Reflecting on the challenges of her campaign, Huldah acknowledged that being both an immigrant and a woman of color made her path to victory difficult. Despite these challenges, she won the Democratic primary with 51.28% of the vote, surpassing fellow candidate Wynfred Russell.
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