Kenyan-born politician Huldah Momanyi-Hiltsley has won a second term in the Minnesota House of Representatives after securing a decisive victory in the 2026 United States midterm elections.
Momanyi-Hiltsley, a Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party legislator, won District 38A with 9,852 votes, representing 71.8 per cent of the total votes cast. Her Republican challenger, Charlie Kistler, garnered 3,840 votes, or 28 per cent.
In an update on Wednesday, November 4, Momanyi-Hiltsley thanked voters, campaign volunteers and supporters for backing her re-election bid.
“You have sent me back to the Minnesota House! I am deeply grateful for your trust, your votes, and every volunteer and supporter who helped make this victory possible,” she said.
“Serving you is an honor, and I’m ready to keep working for our community,” she added.
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Momanyi-Hiltsley first made history in 2024 when she won the District 38A seat, becoming the first Kenyan-born immigrant to serve in a state legislature in the United States.
During her first term, she served on several legislative committees, including those responsible for housing finance, human services and legacy funding.
Education and Early Life
Momanyi-Hiltsley was born to Phillip Momanyi Sangaka and Tabitha Momanyi and hails from Nyamemiso village in Nyamira County, Kenya.
Her father relocated to the United States in 1988 as a student, with her mother joining him in 1992. Momanyi-Hiltsley and her two siblings later moved to the US in 1995.
She began her education in Kenya at Nyambaria Primary School, although some accounts also identify Kisii Primary School as part of her early schooling.
After relocating to the United States, she continued her studies at Robbinsdale Cooper High School in New Hope, Minnesota, where she graduated in 2004.
She subsequently enrolled at Bethel University, earning three bachelor’s degrees in International Business, International Relations and Reconciliation Studies.
She also obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Global Business Management from the same university.
Career and Community Leadership
Before venturing into elective politics, Momanyi-Hiltsley established a professional career in Minnesota’s Twin Cities, working in corporate compliance, data privacy and data protection.
Her experience in these fields provided a foundation for her transition into public service, where she has represented District 38A in the Minnesota House since 2025.
Beyond her corporate and political career, she has been active in community leadership, particularly among Kenyans living in the United States.
She previously served as the first elected female president of Mwanyagetinge, a Kisii-based cultural and community organisation, marking another milestone in her leadership journey.
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