Nikema Williams

Nikema Williams (born July 30, 1978) is an American politician and political executive serving as a member of the Georgia State Senate for District 39. She is also the chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia. In July 2020, Williams became the Democratic nominee for Georgia's 5th congressional district, selected to replace John Lewis on the November ballot after his death.

Nikema Williams
Chair of the Georgia Democratic Party
Assumed office
January 26, 2019
Preceded byDuBose Porter
In office
June 9, 2013 – August 31, 2013
Acting
Preceded byMike Berlon
Succeeded byDuBose Porter
Member of the Georgia Senate
from the 39th district
Assumed office
December 5, 2017
Preceded byVincent Fort
Personal details
Born (1978-07-30) July 30, 1978
Columbus, Georgia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children1
EducationTalladega College (BA)
WebsiteGovernment website

Early life and education

Williams is from Smiths Station, Alabama.[1] Her father was a neighborhood leader, and her great aunt, Autherine Lucy, integrated the University of Alabama.[2] Williams graduated from Talladega College, where she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology, and then moved to Atlanta, Georgia, in 2002.[1]

Career

After moving to Atlanta, Williams joined the Young Democrats of Georgia.[2] She then served as vice-president for Public Policy at Planned Parenthood Southeast.[3] In 2011, she was elected as the first vice chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia.[4] She served as the interim chair of the party in 2013, following Mike Berlon's resignation.[1]

Williams supported Barack Obama's presidential campaigns and served as a member of the Obama Victory Fund in 2012.[5] She was recognized as one of Obama's top bundlers during that campaign cycle, raising over $50,000 for the campaign.[6]

In 2017, Williams was elected to the Georgia State Senate, in a special election after Vincent Fort's resignation to run in the Atlanta mayoral election. Williams was one of 15 people arrested during a protest against the handling of the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election at the Georgia State Capitol on November 13, 2018.[1][7] The charges were dropped in June 2019.[8]

In January 2019, Williams was elected to lead the Georgia Democratic Party. She became the first Black woman, the third woman, and second African American to chair the party.[1] She was a delegate to the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Democratic National Conventions.

Williams was one of several Georgia General Assembly members to test positive for COVID-19 after being exposed by a fellow member.[9][10]

On July 20, 2020, following the death of John Lewis, Williams was selected to replace him on the November ballot for Georgia's 5th congressional district in the 2020 election.[11] She will face Republican nominee Angela Stanton-King in the general election, and is heavily favored in this strongly Democratic district. A September 2020 special election was called by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp to fill the remainder of Lewis' unexpired term. Williams will not run in the special election.[12][13]

Personal life

Williams' husband, Leslie Small, is a former aide to John Lewis.[14] They met while campaigning for Democrats during the 2008 elections.[1] They have one son.[2]

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References
  1. Prabhu, Maya (January 28, 2019). "Meet Nikema Williams, the newly elected leader of Georgia's Democrats". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  2. Edwards, Breanna (December 6, 2019). "Georgia State Sen. Nikema Williams On Continuing The Legacy Of The Civil Rights Movement". Essence. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  3. "NIKEMA WILLIAMS". GeorgiaDemocrat.org. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  4. "Georgia Democrats elect new leaders". Ledger-Enquirer. Columbus, Georgia. Associated Press. January 30, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  5. "Nikema Williams". Democrats. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  6. "10 Stars That Have Supported Obama Financially". HuffPost. September 6, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  7. Butler, Kiera (November 17, 2018). ""Senator, Why Are You Being Arrested?"". Mother Jones. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  8. Prabhu, Maya T. (June 10, 2019). "Cases dismissed against Ga. senator, protesters arrested at Capitol". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  9. Staff, WSBTV com News. "4th Georgia state senator tests positive for coronavirus". WSBTV.
  10. "UPDATE: Atlanta Senator Tests Positive for Coronavirus". THE PEOPLE'S STATION V103. March 21, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  11. Bluestein, Greg (July 20, 2020). "Democrats tap Nikema Williams to replace John Lewis on November ballot". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  12. "Atlanta lowering flags indefinitely to honor Rep. John Lewis". KSTP. July 18, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  13. Panetta, Grace. "Nikema Williams is selected as the Democratic nominee to replace Rep. John Lewis on the ballot for November". Business Insider. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  14. Bluestein, Greg (July 19, 2020). "As they mourn John Lewis, Ga. Democrats must quickly choose a successor". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
Party political offices
Preceded by
Mike Berlon		 Chair of the Georgia Democratic Party
Acting
2013		 Succeeded by
DuBose Porter
Preceded by
DuBose Porter		 Chair of the Georgia Democratic Party
2019–present		 Incumbent
Georgia State Senate
Preceded by
Vincent Fort		 Member of the Georgia State Senate
from the 39th district
2017–present		 Incumbent
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