Kenyan Dr Lyna Nyamwaya Announces Run for Minnesota House Seat in District 43A

Dr Lyna Nyamwaya has announced her candidacy for the Minnesota House of Representatives, becoming the first to enter the race for District 43A following Representative Cedrick Frazier’s decision not to seek re-election.

Dr Nyamwaya, 49, is a nurse, educator, and community leader based in New Hope, Minnesota. She formally launched her campaign on 2 October and will be running in the November 2026 elections. District 43A includes the city of New Hope and much of Crystal.

She currently works as an adjunct professor at St Catherine University in St Paul and has over two decades of experience in healthcare, higher education, and civic initiatives. Originally from Kenya, Dr Nyamwaya first moved to Rockford, Illinois, before settling in New Hope with her family in 2002. 

Since then, she has been active in local mentorship programmes, economic development forums, and multicultural leadership events. Her campaign outlines a legislative platform focused on social equity, healthcare access, education, public safety, and economic opportunity. 

Key policy priorities include expanding affordable healthcare, improving educational systems to meet technological and workforce changes, promoting fair wages, supporting small businesses, ensuring safe housing, and addressing environmental sustainability. Dr Nyamwaya joins a growing number of Kenyan-Americans who are participating in Minnesota politics. 

In 2024, Huldah Momanyi was elected to represent District 38A, becoming one of the first Kenyan-born legislators in the state. The Minnesota House of Representatives serves two-year terms and holds authority over state legislation, including matters related to education, healthcare, labour, and public safety. 

Members also have the power to initiate impeachment proceedings, with trials conducted by the state Senate.