Nikema Williams

Nikema Williams remembers riding in her grandfather's pickup as he delivered candidate cards around their Alabama community.¹ She says she thought it was fun before recognizing it as political canvassing.¹ Her grandparents raised her in Smiths Station, in a home without indoor plumbing or running water.¹

Williams studied biology at Talladega College and later completed the Women's Campaign School at Yale.² Her earlier work included public policy at Planned Parenthood Southeast and political organizing at the National Domestic Workers Alliance and Care in Action.² She and her husband, Leslie Small, have a son and live in Atlanta.³

She served in the Georgia Senate from 2017 to 2021 and chaired the state Democratic Party from 2019 to 2025.⁴ Her state Senate district included Atlanta, East Point, College Park, Union City and South Fulton.² She was the first Black woman to chair Georgia's Democratic Party.² The Georgia Legislative Black Caucus recognized her as its Freshman Legislator of the Year.²

Williams entered Congress in 2021 and now serves on the Financial Services Committee and as whip of the Democratic Women's Caucus.⁵ She emphasizes affordable housing and reducing racial wealth disparities.⁵ Her campaign also stresses voting access, reproductive rights and healthcare access.³ She faces Republican John “Bongo” Salvesen.⁶