Nigerian-American politician KC Ohaebosim has made history after winning the election as lieutenant governor of Kansas, becoming the first Nigerian-American to hold the position in the United States.
Ohaebosim, a Democrat from Wichita, was elected alongside Governor-elect Cindy Holscher in the November 3 midterm elections.
The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, announced his victory in a post on X on Friday, describing it as a landmark achievement for Nigerians in the diaspora.
“Nigerian American KC Ohaebosim WON in Kansas! The race has been called,” she wrote, adding that he was the first Nigerian-American to become a lieutenant governor in the US.
Ohaebosim will serve as deputy to Holscher, who defeated Republican Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson by about 0.6 per cent, representing fewer than 8,000 votes.
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According to a report by Kansas City public radio station KCUR, an audit delayed the official declaration of the winner for more than a week after Election Day.
The victory also marks a milestone in Kansas political history, as Ohaebosim is expected to become the second Black person elected to a statewide office in the state. The first was former State Auditor Edward McCabe, who won election in 1882.
Ohaebosim has represented Kansas’ 89th District in the state House of Representatives since 2017. He did not seek re-election in 2026 after joining Holscher’s gubernatorial ticket.
Born in Wichita, he is the son of Nigeria-born physician Dr Linus Ohaebosim. He spent part of his childhood and received some of his early education in Nigeria before returning to Kansas, where he attended Wichita Heights High School.
He later earned a bachelor’s degree from Wichita State University and an MBA from Newman University, both in Wichita.
Before entering politics, Ohaebosim worked in technology-related roles, including as a data analyst. During his time in the Kansas House, he served on committees covering transportation, general government budget, and energy, utilities and telecommunications, where he was the ranking minority member.
His election forms part of wider Democratic gains in Kansas during the November 3 polls. Democrats also won the state attorney general race and a US Senate seat, while breaking the Republican supermajority in the state House of Representatives.
Holscher and Ohaebosim are expected to assume office in 2027.
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