BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. — Supporters chanted “Huldah! Huldah!” as state Rep. Huldah Momanyi-Hiltsley took the microphone at an Election Night celebration Tuesday at Plush Restaurant and Lounge.
When the Kenyan-born lawmaker introduced herself as the representative-elect, the crowd erupted in cheers.
“I am the sitting rep and I will continue sitting!” she declared, drawing another round of cheers.
Momanyi-Hiltsley had good reason to celebrate. The Democratic-Farmer-Labor lawmaker won a second term representing Minnesota House District 38A, defeating Republican challenger Charlie Kistler by a wide margin in Tuesday’s general election.
Check out: Mshale Black Ballot – Election results for Black candidates around Minnesota.
Momanyi-Hiltsley received 9,852 votes, or 71.80%, compared with Kistler’s 3,840 votes, or 27.99%, according to unofficial results from the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office, with all 12 precincts reporting.
The victory extends the political career of a lawmaker who made history in 2024 when she became the first Kenyan-born person elected to a state legislature in the United States.
Her reelection also followed a challenging political season that included a closely contested DFL primary and divisions among political allies in Brooklyn Park.
A difficult election season
Addressing supporters Tuesday night, Momanyi-Hiltsley acknowledged the tensions that had accompanied the campaign.
“This election cycle was tough,” she said.
She accused political opponents of engaging in personal attacks against candidates she supported, including Brooklyn Park Mayor Hollies Winston and Bernice David-Cooper, who won the city’s West District council seat Tuesday.
Momanyi-Hiltsley described the criticism as character assassination and said the attacks had extended to candidates’ families and personal reputations.
Her remarks came against a backdrop of divisions within Brooklyn Park’s DFL political circles, where competing alliances associated with Winston and state Sen. Susan Pha have shaped local political contests.
Momanyi-Hiltsley faced one of her most significant electoral tests in August, when former Brooklyn Park City Council member Wynfred Russell challenged her for the DFL nomination in House District 38A.
She won the three-way primary with 1,822 votes, or 48.79%, compared with Russell’s 1,561 votes, or 41.81%. Richard “Lefty” Klatte finished third with 351 votes, or 9.40%.
The primary was decided by 261 votes, a much narrower margin than her general-election victory.
At Tuesday’s celebration, Momanyi-Hiltsley credited supporters and campaign volunteers with persevering through the difficult election cycle.
“So at the end of the day, you guys, there are sleepless nights. There are long nights,” she said.
“I want to stand here and be a testimony that when we, the people, decide, when we, the people, put in the work, when we, the people, decide that we are in it for the right reasons … we went out there and we won!”
Her declaration drew an enthusiastic response from supporters gathered at the restaurant.
Immigration, public safety and government accountability
Momanyi-Hiltsley’s reelection comes after a campaign in which immigration enforcement, government fraud, taxes, housing and public safety featured prominently in legislative debates.
At a July 14 candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters at Brooklyn Park City Hall, Momanyi-Hiltsley defended her legislative record and outlined priorities she said remained unfinished.
The forum brought together candidates for Senate District 38 and House districts 38A and 38B, with questions focusing on the economic impact of federal immigration enforcement, oversight of public funds, taxes and gun violence.
Discussing Operation Metro Surge, Momanyi-Hiltsley said immigrant- and minority-owned businesses had been struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic when federal immigration enforcement created additional disruptions.
“A lot of our businesses, they were still recovering from COVID,” she said at the forum. “And now to deal with Metro Surge, we have a long way to go to making sure that our businesses feel supported.”
She said lawmakers had attempted to approve a larger rapid-response assistance package but had been unable to secure enough support.
On government fraud, Momanyi-Hiltsley called for prosecuting wrongdoing regardless of political affiliation while cautioning against blaming entire communities for the actions of individuals.
She also defended legislative efforts to strengthen oversight, including the creation of an inspector general’s office, and called for adequate resources to enforce existing laws.
On taxes, she advocated examining whether publicly funded programs were producing results and called for greater contributions from wealthy residents and corporations.
Public safety was another area of disagreement.
During the July forum, Momanyi-Hiltsley challenged Republican assertions about gun violence in Democratic-led communities and pointed to efforts by House DFL lawmakers to advance gun violence prevention legislation.
She pledged to continue pursuing such legislation if reelected.
The lawmaker also highlighted funding for affordable housing, public safety, parks, community centers and infrastructure in Brooklyn Park and Osseo, along with legislative work involving tenant protections and access to health care.
“Leadership isn’t about being the loudest person in the room,” she said during her opening statement at the July forum. “It’s about being the person who gets things done.”
From historic first to a second term
Momanyi-Hiltsley’s election in 2024 marked a milestone for Minnesota’s Kenyan American community.
Born in Kenya, she immigrated to the United States as a child and later became involved in community advocacy and public service.
At the July candidate forum, she recalled how the intervention of the late U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone helped her family overcome the possibility of deportation, an experience that informed her interest in immigrant rights and public policy.
Her victory two years ago brought a Kenyan-born immigrant into the Minnesota Legislature for the first time.
Tuesday’s results mean she will return to the Capitol for another two-year term representing House District 38A, which includes Osseo and portions of Brooklyn Park.
Her second term will begin in January, following certification of the election results.
A message to constituents
Despite the festive atmosphere at Tuesday’s celebration, Momanyi-Hiltsley used part of her speech to emphasize her responsibilities to the people who elected her.
“Thank you for the honor of giving me the chance to serve you,” she said.
“It’s about listening to you. It’s about listening to the concerns of the people. And for those of you who know me, you can come to my office. You can come to my house.”
She also thanked her husband, whom she affectionately referred to as “Mr. Ondieki,” her parents, campaign team and supporters, including members of the Kenyan community.
The acknowledgments drew sustained applause and cheers.
Momanyi-Hiltsley was among several candidates celebrating at the joint Election Night gathering, including Winston, who won reelection as mayor, and David-Cooper, who became the first Liberian woman elected to the Brooklyn Park City Council.
As Momanyi-Hiltsley concluded her remarks, she welcomed Winston to the stage, prompting another round of loud cheers from the crowd.
For the Kenyan-born lawmaker, the celebration marked a transition from a difficult campaign to another term in office — and an opportunity to continue the legislative work she told voters was not yet finished.
Tom Gitaa contributed to this report.
About Richard Ooga, Mshale PhotoJournalist
Richard Ooga is Mshale Newspaper's chief photographer.
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