Two Ghanaian-American women, Bernice Mireku-North and Abena Affum-McAllister, have secured seats in the Maryland House of Delegates following the November 2026 elections in the United States.

The two women were elected to represent Districts 14 and 28, respectively, making them among the Ghanaian-descended politicians who have secured positions in the Maryland legislature.

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While Mireku-North retained her seat in District 14, Affum-McAllister won a new seat in District 28.

Bernice Mireku-North – District 14

Bernice Mireku-North was re-elected to represent District 14 after securing 30,372 votes, or 31.54% of the total votes cast.

Mireku-North was first appointed to the Maryland House of Delegates in January 2023 to represent Montgomery County.

She is a daughter of Ghanaian immigrants and has spoken about her family connections across Ghana, the United States, Mexico and Europe.

"I'm a daughter of Ghanaian immigrants, wife, mom, sister, auntie, and cousin to family members from Ghana, across the U.S. and Mexico and Europe," she said in her personal profile sighted by GhanaWeb.

Before entering politics, Mireku-North built a career in law. She completed two judicial clerkships and worked as an Assistant State's Attorney for six years before moving into private legal practice.

She is currently the Managing Attorney of The North Law Group, LLC, and has been involved in several bar associations.

Since 2023, she has represented District 14 in the Maryland legislature, where she focuses on policies aimed at building safer, stronger and healthier communities.

At the legislature in Annapolis, she serves on the Ways and Means Committee, including its Local Revenues and Early Childhood subcommittees.

She is also a member of the Legislative Black Caucus, Legislative Latino Caucus, Transit Caucus and Women Legislators of Maryland.

Outside her legislative duties, she continues to practise law, handling criminal defence, family law, wills and trusts, and business litigation.

Abena Affum-McAllister – District 28

Abena Affum-McAllister won a new seat in District 28 after polling 32,679 votes, representing 26.93%.

She finished second in the three-member district behind her competitors and defeated both Republican candidates in the race.

A native of Charles County, Affum-McAllister has built a career in politics, community organising and criminal justice reform.

In 2017, she became the youngest person and the second Black woman to lead the Charles County Democratic Central Committee.

She later made history as the first person from Charles County to be elected to an executive officer position within the Maryland Democratic Party, where she served as Deputy Secretary.

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Her work has also focused on youth development and community justice, particularly in Southern Maryland.

Professionally, Affum-McAllister currently serves as Director of Criminal Justice Reform Initiatives at the Charles County State's Attorney's Office.

Her election to the Maryland House of Delegates marks another step in her public service career, following years of involvement in Democratic Party leadership and community development.

MAG/BAI

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