Young politicians wit African roots wey make history for di US midterm elections

Some Africans don make history for di US midterms election afta dem win.

"JD [Vance], habibi (my love)."

Dis na unlikely greeting to hear for one Democratic Party victory rally afta di US midterm elections.

Abdul El-Sayed, 42, wey im parents na Egyptian immigrants, jokingly greet Vice-President JD Vance, wey campaign against am but dem go swear am as di new Senator for Michigan in January.

Di US-born Democrat spend much of im campaign to dey fight attacks from conservative media and President Donald Trump, wey accuse am say im dey support di Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed reject di allegations.

"My name na Abdul Rahman Mohammed El-Sayed," e tok dis wit im Egyptian Arabic accent to di cheering crowd for im victory rally. Im Arabic Muslim name na target for many of im opponents. E go soon become di first Muslim senator.

El-Sayed run social-media first campaign, wit TikTok edits wey show am as e dey tok directly to young voters, e tap into Gen Z humour, and sporting friendship bracelets.

Di former public health administrator campaign focus on progressive agenda, including Medicare for All, affordable housing, and cutting corporate influence for politics.

Na also loud critic of US military aid to Israel.

But El-Sayed no dey alone. From Ethiopian-born Gen Z congresswoman to candidates wey get Nigerian roots, several oda politicians wey get African roots win in dis year midterms.

Di elections, wey dey happun halfway through president four-year term, decide who go represent Americans for Congress, as well as thousands of state and local offices.

Melat Kiros na Ethiopian-born

At 29, Melat Kiros become di first Gen Z woman wey dem elect into di US Congress.

Kios wey dem born for Ethiopia, arrive for US as a baby, grow up for Denver. She neva hold any elected office bifor she win di Democrat primary against 15-term incumbent for Colorado 1st District, she win big for di Tuesday election.

Kiros, like El-Sayed, campaign about issues wey don become central to young progressive voters, di cost of living, universal childcare, and Medicare for All.

Di Democratic Socialists of America endorse her, she also call for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and make US stop military aid to Israel.

Heroutspoken criticism of Israel war for Gaza don cause many gbasgbos. Kiros tok say her criticism dey aim at di Israeli state, no be Jewish pipo.

In 2023, dem bin fire her from one top New York law firm becos she refuse to take down one open letter wey she write to dozens of law firms. Di letter bin urge law school deans make dem crack down on antisemitism for campus as students dey engage in pro-Palestinian protests.

Kiros condemn antisemitism, but she warn di law firms, including di one wey she dey work for, say make dem no mix "such bigotry wit di geo-political question of Israel's legitimacy."

She tok say afta dem fire her, she start to dey tink more seriously about politics in general.

Adrian Boafo na Ghanaian-born

Adrian Boafo, one second-generation Ghanaian-American, go represent Maryland 5th Congressional District afta e succeed veteran Congressman Steny Hoyer, wey retire afta im political career don pass forty years.

Dem born di 32-year-old for Virginia and raise am for Prince George County, Maryland. Im parents immigrated to di US from Ghana.

Boafo route to Congress start for local politics. E serve for Bowie City Council bifor e become Maryland state delegate for 2023. E also work for Hoyer bifor e win di race to replace am.

Im campaign focus on cost of living, childcare and protecting federal workers, major issue for district wey close to Washington DC and house for thousands of govment workers.

For im victory statement, Boafo tok say representing im constituents "neva feel more urgent", e point to federal job cuts, rising costs and Trump administration immigration crackdown.

Among pipo wey dey return to Congress na Somali-born Ilhan Omar, 44, wey don win di fifth term desipte di ongoing federal investigation.

Federal agents search her Washington home for October as part of investigation into her immigration papers. Omar deny wrongdoing and no dem neva charge her wit any crime.

First elected to Congress for 2018, Omar become di first Somali-American and one of di first Muslim women wey serve in di chamber. She don also become frequent target of President Trump, wey dey criticise her and oda Somali immigrants repeatedly.

Trump don previously use derogatory language to describe some African kontris, including Somalia. For October, im Yemeni-born adviser Amer Ghalib tok say di president go stop to dey use such language.

Odas make dia own breakthroughs for state and local politics.

Junior Ezeonu wey dem born for Nigeria and move go US wen e bin dey small. By 27, e don become Grand Prairie youngest city council member bifor e win seat for Texas State House.

Den, Carol Kazeem, 34, Pennsylvania state legislator wey get Nigerian roots and wey don keep her seat for District 159. At least four candidates wey get Nigerian roots win for di 3 November midterms.

For some young Africans wey dey watch from across di Atlantic, dis wins don show wetin di new generation of voters fit achieve for dia own home kontri.

For social media, pipo don dey share di election results as source of inspiration, especially for Nigeria and Kenya, wia major elections dey come for 2027.