Two African immigrant candidates whose campaigns were profiled by Mshale fell short in Tuesday’s municipal elections, but both say their commitment to serving their communities will continue despite their defeats.
Victor Jumah, a Kenyan-born member of Ramsey’s Charter Commission, lost his bid to unseat incumbent Dan Specht in the city’s Ward 3 City Council race. In neighboring Champlin, Charles A. Boakai, a Liberian immigrant making his first run for elected office, finished fourth in a four-way contest for the Ward 4 council seat.
Jumah received 1,194 votes, or 35.67%, compared with 2,141 votes, or 63.97%, for Specht, according to results released by the city of Ramsey.
In Champlin, Boakai received 273 votes, or 9.57%. Samuel Mwangi, a Kenyan American making his third attempt to win a council seat, won with 1,178 votes, or 41.30%. Lorraine Coan finished second with 990 votes, followed by Ryan Reider with 393.
Both candidates acknowledged their defeats in Facebook statements, thanked supporters and congratulated their opponents.
The results conclude two campaigns Mshale followed as part of its coverage of African immigrant participation in Minnesota politics.
Jumah: ‘My commitment to serving our community remains’
Jumah entered the Ramsey Ward 3 race after serving on the city’s Charter Commission, a volunteer body that reviews and recommends changes to the municipal charter.
In a June interview with Mshale, Jumah said his campaign grew out of his family’s experience settling in Ramsey and his desire to preserve the welcoming environment that attracted them to the northwest Twin Cities suburb.
His campaign emphasized public safety, responsible development, government accountability and maintaining the city’s character as it grows.
Following the election, Jumah posted a message on Facebook acknowledging that the outcome was not what his campaign had hoped for.
“While tonight’s election results were not what we had hoped for, my heart is filled with gratitude,” he wrote, thanking family, neighbors, volunteers, donors and supporters.
“We may not have won the election, but we built meaningful relationships, brought people together, and made our voices heard.”
Jumah said he was proud of the campaign and had no regrets about seeking office.
He also congratulated Specht and thanked Ramsey residents for the opportunity to compete for the council seat.
“The election may be over, but my commitment to serving our community remains,” he wrote.
Boakai calls for unity after Champlin defeat
Boakai entered the Champlin Ward 4 special election advocating greater public participation in City Council decisions, closer scrutiny of municipal spending and expanded recreational opportunities for families.
In a September profile published by Mshale, Boakai said he wanted the city’s increasingly diverse population to have a greater voice in local government.
“We are becoming more and more diverse,” he said at the time. “We need to get people on the table.”
His proposals included an indoor community recreation center with swimming and sports facilities, stronger support for small businesses and additional youth programs.
Boakai, who arrived in the United States from Liberia around 2011, described his first campaign as an opportunity to give back to the country where he had built a life with his family.
In a Facebook statement after the election, Boakai thanked his wife, children, campaign team, volunteers and supporters, while acknowledging that voters had chosen another candidate.
“Although the election results are not what we hoped and prayed for, I want everyone to understand that losing an election does not mean losing our purpose, our dignity, or our commitment to serving our community,” he wrote.
Boakai said his campaign had worked hard, knocked on doors and shared its vision with residents.
“But democracy gives every voter the right to make their choice, and we must respect that decision,” he wrote.
He also disclosed that he had personally congratulated Mwangi on winning the seat.
“I called and congratulated Mr. Sam on his win,” Boakai wrote.
Mwangi’s victory followed unsuccessful Champlin council campaigns in 2020 and 2024. Mshale reported on his election Wednesday, including its significance for Kenyan American representation in municipal government.
The Champlin City Council is scheduled to canvass election results Nov. 9, while Ramsey’s City Council is scheduled to canvass its results Nov. 10.
Although neither Boakai nor Jumah won a seat, their post-election statements emphasized continued civic participation rather than withdrawal from public life.
Boakai urged supporters not to allow the election to divide their community.
“My message tonight is simple: Let us not allow disappointment to turn into bitterness, political differences to destroy friendships, or an election result to divide our community,” he wrote.
He said he intended to remain engaged in advocating for transparency, accountability, public safety, responsible property taxes and community development.
About Mshale Staff
The byline “By Mshale Staff” is used for stories that involve limited or no original reporting by our newsroom. These stories are often based on press releases or information provided by official sources, including corporations, government agencies and public institutions. The byline also may be used for reports compiled from multiple contributors, wire services, previously published material or aggregated sources when listing individual authors is impractical. Outside sources are generally identified within the story.
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