Oye Owolewa
Shadow Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from the District of Columbia's
at-large district
Assumed office
January 3, 2021
Preceded byFranklin Garcia
Personal details
Born1989 (age 34–35)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. [1]
Political partyDemocratic
EducationNortheastern University (BS, PharmD)
WebsiteCampaign website

Adeoye "Oye" Owolewa (born 1989)[2][3] is a Nigerian American politician, pharmacist, and a member of the Democratic Party. In November 2020, he was elected as the shadow representative of the United States House of Representatives from the District of Columbia.[4] As a shadow congressperson, Owolewa is tasked with lobbying for D.C. statehood; the unpaid position is authorized by D.C. voters in 1982, but never approved by Congress.[5][6] Although mistakenly described in Nigerian media as the first Nigerian American to be elected to the U.S. Congress, Owolewa is not a member of Congress.[7][8]

Early life and education

Owolewa in 2021.

Owolewa was born in Boston, to a father from Omu Aran in Kwara State and a mother from Ilesa in Osun State.[9] He is the grandson of Phoebe C. Ajayi-Obe, a senior advocate of Nigeria.[10] Oye was raised in Newton, Massachusetts[11] and nearby Boston, where he attended Boston Latin School and graduated in 2008.[12] In 2014, he earned a doctorate in pharmacy from Northeastern University and moved to Washington to practice pharmacy.[10]

Career

In 2014, he started work as a pharmacist.[13]

Oye is a Cardinal GenerationRx Champions Award winner.[14]

Politics

In 2018, Oye was elected a D.C. Advisory Neighborhood Commission for Ward 8, District 8E.[15]

In May 2018, the Capital Stonewall Democrats endorsed Oye Owolewa as the District's shadow U.S. representative with 66.1% of the vote on the first ballot.[16] [17]

In 2020, a special thanksgiving prayer was held on Sunday in honor of Owolewa after being elected as the U.S. Shadow Member for Columbia District by members of his family in Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria. The prayer, which was led by the Chief Imam of Omu Aran, took place at the Owolewa family compound, in Igangu, Omu Aran, headquarters of Irepodun local government area of Kwara State.[18]

In August 2021, Oye called out Sen. Joe Manchin for his lack of supporting DC statehood legislatively.[19]

In May 2022, in a straw poll conducted as opposed to endorsements, Oye was able to ganner 35.8% of the vote.[20] In November 2020, Oye Owolewa was elected as a U.S. Shadow Representative for District of Columbia.[21]

Case for D.C. statehood

In an article titled "The Time Is Now For D C Statehood" in the Washington Socialist publication, Oye states that Without statehood, District of Columbia is limited in its ability to raise revenue, since all of its laws are subject to Congressional approval and much of its land is federally-owned and therefore untaxed. Despite having state-like duties, from education to road maintenance, the District is explicitly barred from taxing the wages earned by non-residents who work within its borders, unlike any other state. The prohibition on such state revenue collection practices makes it hard for the District to respond to crises such as the pandemic.[22]

He said, "D.C. residents are forced into second-class citizenship in the richest nation in history. Recent events and legislation have highlighted the disparity between how Washingtonians are treated compared to everyone else. While D C residents pay the highest amount of federal income taxes per capita, we receive less than equal share from the government. For example, compared to our neighbors in all other states, DC received 60% less emergency aid resources from the CARES act to combat COVID-19 and support our financial, health care, and infrastructural well-being. By denying D C statehood, Congress is suppressing our voting representation and say in national policy. Our lack of statehood also prohibits our right to self-govern. Once D.C. statehood is achieved, local leaders can pass legislation and set a budget without the threat of federal interference. D C statehood will also allow us to control our criminal justice system so we can escape a punitive structure of mass incarceration and transition to a progressive system favoring diversion programs. Last but not least, once D C becomes the 51st state, we will control our own resources, and President Trump would no longer be able to deploy our national guard against us when we march peacefully. The fight for D C statehood not only ends our nation's longest case of voter suppression but also gives residents of the nation's capital the right to live free of government control."[23]

On January 17, 2022, Oye participated in the 16th annual Peace Walk in Ward 8. The focus of the Peace Walk was to urge the U.S. Senate to consider the Freedom to Vote Act of 2021 and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021. "Members of the [Martin Luther] King family support statehood, and I have seen them wear T-shirts indicating that," Oye said.[24]

On March 11, 2022, at the State Capitol Building in Charleston, WV, DC Representative Oye Owolewa led an opportunity to introduce a DC Statehood Resolution (HCR 86) with Minority Leader Doug Skaff Jr. and State Representative Sean Hornbuckle.[25]

LGBTQ rights

In an article titled "Anti-trans legislation has ripple effect in D.C.", Oye states that many of these bills target transgender and non-binary youth by making it illegal to access or provide gender-affirming medical care and denying the best-equipped healthcare providers the ability to provide appropriate care for the trans community. This results in wasteful spending, increased healthcare costs, and worse outcomes.[26]

He explained that gender-affirming care is essential to inclusive, comprehensive transgender health care. Affirming gender identity among transgender and nonbinary youth is consistently associated with lower rates of suicide attempts.[27]

Advocacy

Oye worked to bring resources to the underserved by advising D.C. lawmakers based on continued community feedback. He has served as a commissioner since 2018, his first elected office. As commissioner, Oye learned the value of being an advocate and community resource. Some of Oye's most notable achievements were increasing science enrichment programs in Southeast elementary schools, adding traffic safety measures, and helping to bring a Senior Day Center to the neighborhood.[28]

Oye distributing narcan.

In May 2022, Owolewa, alongside Chef Spike Mendelsohn, co-chaired D.C's first-ever Veg Restaurant Week.[29][30]

Climate change

In July 2022, Owolewa joined a campaign to protest the Supreme Court's to limit the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to regulate greenhouse gases and to call for more action on climate change.[31]

Personal life

Mentorship

Since moving to DC, Dr. Oye spent his non-working time exposing DC elementary students to science through hands-on learning and advocated for strategies to reduce prescription drug abuse. His work led him to earn the Cardinal Health Generation Rx Champions Award by the Washington DC Pharmacy Association.[32]

Dr. Oye notably increased science enrichment in Southeast DC, improved traffic safety infrastructure, and formed a collaboration with Howard students participating in Councilman Trayon White's health fairs.[32]

Electoral history

2020 Shadow Representative election in Washington, D.C.[33][34]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Oye Owolewa 74,101 95.8
Write-in 3,260 4.2
Total votes 77,361 100.0
General election
Democratic Oye Owolewa 240,533 81.6
DC Statehood Green Joyce (Chestnut) Robinson-Paul 27,128 9.2
independent (politician) Sohaer Rizvi Syed 22,771 7.7
Write-in 4,341 1.5
Total votes 294,773 100.0
Democratic hold
2022 Shadow Representative election in Washington, D.C.[35]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Oye Owolewa 54,317 51.6
Democratic Linda L. Gray 48,630 46.5
Write-in 1,614 1.5
Total votes 104,561 100.0
General election
Democratic Oye Owolewa 140,502 83.5
DC Statehood Green Joyce (Chestnut) Robinson-Paul 24,833 14.8
Write-in 2,875 1.7
Total votes 168,212 100.0
Democratic hold


References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ Olowolagba, Fikayo (November 5, 2020). "US Election: Oye Owolewa Made Nigeria Proud". Daily Post. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Adeoyo Owolewa Twitter". Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  4. ↑ "General Election 2020 - Election Night Unofficial Results". District of Columbia Board of Elections. November 3, 2020. Archived from the original on November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  5. ↑ Sheridan, Mary Beth (2008-05-29). "D.C. Seeks to Fund Lobbying Effort for a Voting House Member". The Washington Post. p. B01. Archived from the original on 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2008-12-29.
  6. ↑ Butler, Jada (2018-06-13). "D.C.'s 'shadow' officials fight for District to become a state". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on 2018-11-06. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  7. ↑ Lawal, Khadijat Kuburat (November 4, 2020). "Nigerian born Owolewa wins U.S. Rep seat". Daily Trust. Archived from the original on 4 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  8. ↑ Innocent, Odoh. "NIDCOM celebrates first Nigerian to win USA Congressional seat". Premium Times. Archived from the original on 4 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  9. ↑ "Meet Oye". Representative Oye Owolewa. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  10. 1 2 Politics (September 12, 2020). "OYE OWOLEWA Historic Eye on US Congress". This Day. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  11. ↑ Raver, Anne (May 27, 1999). "For Wildflowers, Worker Bees to the Rescue". F, Human Nature. New York Times (1 ed.). New York Times. p. 1. PDF copy. Archived from the original on October 11, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Nine Nigerian-Americans Contesting In United States Election On Tuesday". Sahara Reporters. November 2, 2020. Archived from the original on 3 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  13. ↑ O'Connell, Michael (3 November 2020). "Candidate Profile: Oye Owolewa For Shadow DC Congressional Seat". Patch. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  14. ↑ "wdcpha.org". Archived from the original on 2021-01-16. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
  15. ↑ James, Wright (January 8, 2020). "D.C. ELECTION ROUNDUP: Owolewa Seeks Shadow Rep Position". Washington Informer. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  16. ↑ "metroweekly.com". Archived from the original on 2022-06-15. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
  17. ↑ Lou, Chibaro (May 18, 2022). "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Capital Stonewall Democrats backs Robert White over Bowser". Washington Blade. Archived from the original on 1 June 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  18. ↑ Biola, Azeez (September 1, 2022). "Family Holds Special Prayer For Elected US Congressman, Owolewa, In Kwara". Nigerian Tribune. Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  19. ↑ James, Wright (September 1, 2022). "D.C. Statehood a Priority, Civil Rights Leaders Say". Washington Informer. Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  20. ↑ "washingtoninformer.com". Archived from the original on 2022-09-04. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  21. ↑ "vanguardngr.com". Archived from the original on 2022-09-01. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
  22. ↑ Owolewa Jr, Oye (June 9, 2021). "The pandemic proves D.C. needs statehood now". Street Sense Media. Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  23. ↑ "The time is now for DC Statehood". Archived from the original on 2022-09-01. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
  24. ↑ Wright Jr, James (January 12, 2022). "D.C. Statehood Activists Support MLK Peace Walk". Washington Informer. Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  25. ↑ "thedcline.org". Archived from the original on 2022-03-12. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
  26. ↑ "Anti-trans legislation has ripple effects in D.C." Archived from the original on 2022-09-01. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
  27. ↑ "Anti-trans legislation has ripple effects in D.C." Archived from the original on 2022-09-01. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
  28. ↑ Wright Jr, James (August 31, 2022). "OYE OWOLEWA Historic Eye on US Congress". This Day. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  29. ↑ "washingtoninformer.com". Archived from the original on 2022-09-01. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
  30. ↑ "prnewswire.com". Archived from the original on 2022-09-01. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
  31. ↑ Web Staff, WI (July 7, 2022). "D.C. Shadow Rep Joins Rally Against SCOTUS Decision on EPA". Washington Informer. Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  32. 1 2 "democratsabroad.org". Archived from the original on 2022-09-01. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
  33. ↑ "DCBOE Election Results". electionresults.dcboe.org. Archived from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  34. ↑ "General Election 2020 - Certified Results". District of Columbia Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 4 November 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  35. ↑ "DCBOE Election Results". electionresults.dcboe.org. Archived from the original on June 22, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
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