Get to know
Representative Oye
Dr. Adeoye Owolewa (pronounced OH-yay Oh-WHOA-lay-wah) was first sworn in as the United States Representative for the District of Columbia on January 2, 2021. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1989, Representative Owolewa is the first Nigerian-American to serve on the New Columbia Statehood Commission. Rep. Owolewa attended the prestigious Boston Latin School, graduating in 2008. Rep. Oye earned a doctorate degree in pharmacy from Boston’s Northeastern University in 2014 and is a licensed pharmacist currently working as a pharmacist for Giant Food stores in Washington, DC.
Prior to becoming a U.S. Representative, Dr. Owolewa served one term as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in ANC 8E, representing Single Member District 8E-01. As an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, Rep. Owolewa worked to increase science enrichment programs in Southeast area elementary schools, added traffic safety measures, and helped bring a Senior Day Center to his neighborhood. Rep. Oye volunteers at his neighborhood elementary school to encourage students to become more interested in science and mathematics.
History of
U.S. Shadow Representatives
Charles Moreland narrowly defeated Deairich Hunter to become the Washington D.C.’s first Shadow U.S. Representative.
Mr. Moreland was succeeded by John J. Capozzi in that position, who served until January 2, 1997.
Activist and author, Sabrina Sojourner succeeded Mr. Capozzi as Shadow U.S. Representative.
Sojourner was succeeded in 1998 by Tom Bryant, Jr., who was then succeeded by Ray Browne in 2001 and held office until 2007.
Tom Bryant, Jr. was then succeeded by Ray Browne in 2001 and held office until 2007.
After Browne, Mike Panetta served from 2007 until 2013.
Nate Bennett-Flemming held office after Panetta until 2015.
After Mr. Flemming, Franklin Garcia held office from 2015 to 2021.
Currently, Oye Owolewa serves as the current Shadow Representative.
The Alaska Territory also elected the first shadow U.S. representative, Ralph Julian Rivers, in 1956.