Nikema Williams has been chosen to run in Georgia’s 5th Congressional District, the seat held by late civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis, who passed away on Friday (July 17) after a battle with cancer.
Georgia's Democratic Party nominated the state party’s first Black chairwoman, who also serves as a Georgia state senator, on Monday (July 21) after considering four other local leaders and politicians.
“The presidential administration changes in January, and we need to hit the ground running with a qualified, experienced person in this position,” Bobby Fuse, chairman of the Democratic Party in Georgia’s 2nd, said on a conference call announcing his support for Williams, per HuffPost. “We do not need to wait another two years to have an election for a permanent congressman, because we’ll lose two years’ seniority.”