Oye Owolewa, a Nigerian-American and member of the Democratic Party, has been re-elected as the shadow representative for Washington, DC.
Owolewa, who made history in November 2020 as the first Nigerian-American elected to the US Congress, secured 164,026 votes, accounting for 82.84 percent of the total cast in the district.
A PhD graduate from Northeastern University in Boston, Owolewa serves in a unique role not formally recognised by the US government as a full congressional position. His primary focus is on representing DC’s interests, particularly its ongoing bid for statehood.
In a message shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), he expressed his appreciation for the district’s trust: “Thank you DC again for giving me a chance to serve. I also want to thank the organisations that have supported, partnered with and endorsed me.”
While shadow representatives, like Owolewa, do not hold voting power in the US House of Representatives, their advocacy is crucial. They spotlight DC’s push for statehood, a cause Owolewa has passionately supported, working to address the disenfranchisement faced by district residents who lack voting representation at the federal level.
Owolewa’s re-election took place on November 5, aligning with the presidential election in which former President Donald Trump defeated Vice-President Kamala Harris, securing over 270 electoral votes to win a second term.
As Owolewa resumes his duties, he is expected to continue prioritising DC statehood—a central aspect of his work and a long-sought goal for many in the district.
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