[4] As a shadow congressperson, Owolewa is tasked with lobbying for D.C. statehood; the unpaid position was authorized by D.C. voters in 1982, but was never approved by Congress.

[14] 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.

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.

While D.C. residents pay the highest amount of federal income taxes per capita, we receive less than equal share from the government.

Once D.C. statehood is achieved, local leaders can pass legislation and set a budget without the threat of federal interference.

Affirming gender identity among transgender and nonbinary youth is consistently associated with lower rates of suicide attempts.

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][29] 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.

His work led him to earn the Cardinal Health Generation Rx Champions Award by the Washington DC Pharmacy Association.

[31] 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.