Nikema Williams

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Lua error in Module:Infobox at line 235: malformed pattern (missing ']'). Nikema Natassha Williams (/nɪˈkiːmə/ nih-KEE-mə; born July 30, 1978) is an American politician serving as the representative for Georgia's 5th congressional district.[1] The district includes almost three-quarters of Atlanta. She was a member of the Georgia State Senate for the 39th district from 2017 to 2021, and served as Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia from 2019 to 2025. Williams served as one of 16 electors for Georgia in the Electoral College following the 2020 United States presidential election.

Early life and education

Williams was born in Columbus, Georgia, and raised in Smiths Station, Alabama.[2] Her grandfather was a neighborhood leader, and her great-aunt Autherine Lucy integrated the University of Alabama.[3] Williams graduated from Talladega College, where she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology. After graduating from college, she moved to Atlanta in 2002.[2]

Early career

After moving to Atlanta, Williams joined the Young Democrats of Georgia.[3] She then served as vice president for public policy at Planned Parenthood Southeast.[4] In 2018, Williams became the State Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance.[5]

Georgia State Senate

In 2017, Williams was elected to the Georgia State Senate, in a special election after Vincent Fort resigned to run in the Atlanta mayoral election. On November 13, 2018, Williams was one of 15 people arrested during a protest at the Georgia State Capitol against the handling of the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election.[2][6] The charges were dropped in June 2019.[7]

Williams was one of several Georgia General Assembly members to test positive for COVID-19 after being exposed by fellow member Brandon Beach.[8][9]

Party leadership

In 2011, she was elected as first vice chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia.[10] She briefly served as the party's interim chair in 2013, after Mike Berlon resigned, and remained as first vice chair under DuBose Porter.[2] Williams supported Barack Obama's presidential campaigns and served as a member of the Obama Victory Fund in 2012.[11] She was recognized as one of Obama's top bundlers during that campaign cycle, raising over $50,000 for the campaign.[12]

In January 2019, Williams was elected by the DPG State Committee for a full term as Chair, and won re-election in 2023. She became the first Black woman, the third woman, and second African American to chair the party.[2] She was a delegate to the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Democratic National Conventions, and presided over early successes in federal elections in 2020.

However, Williams faced widespread criticism, including from Senator Jon Ossoff, who reportedly pressed her to resign after the party's performances in the 2022 and 2024 Georgia state elections.[13] In response, Williams announced her intent to resign from party leadership, as well as her proposal for Party bylaw amendments to ensure that the next chair would be a full-time, salaried position, which would prohibit Williams from continuing as DPG Chair. On March 31, 2025, two days after the State Committee approved Williams' proposal, Williams resigned as Chair, elevating First Vice Chair Matthew Wilson as interim Chair.[14]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2020

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Main article: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Georgia § District 5
File:117th Congress Sworn in.jpg
Williams and the 117th Congress are sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives, 2021

On July 20, 2020, after the death of John Lewis, Williams was selected by the DPG Executive Committee to replace him on the November ballot for Georgia's 5th congressional district in the 2020 election.[15] The 5th is so heavily Democratic that Williams had been all but assured of a seat in Congress when she was selected to replace Lewis on the ballot.[16][17][18] Georgia Governor Brian Kemp called a September 2020 special election to fill the remainder of Lewis's 17th term. Williams opted to not run in the special election, choosing instead to focus on her role as party chair.[19] The special election was won by Atlanta city councilman Kwanza Hall, who served for a month before handing the seat to Williams. In the general election, she handily defeated Republican Angela Stanton-King by a 70-point margin.

2022

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Main article: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Georgia § District 5

Williams held her seat in the 2022 elections against Republican Christian Zimm, by a smaller but no less overwhelming 65-point margin.

2024

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Main article: 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Georgia § District 5

Williams won reelection in the 2024 elections against Republican John Salvesen by a 71-point margin.[20]

Tenure

File:Representative Nikema Williams Care Act.jpg
Williams introduces a bill to fund endometriosis research, 2024

Williams was among the 46 Democrats who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.[21]

Williams was one of two Democrats in December 2023 along with Bobby Scott to vote against the expulsion of now-former New York representative George Santos.[22]

Committee assignments

For the 118th Congress:[23]

Caucus memberships

Personal life

Williams's husband, Leslie Small, was a former aide to John Lewis.[27] They met while campaigning for Democrats during the 2008 elections.[2] They have one son.[3] She is a former member of UFCW.[citation needed]

See also

References

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External links

Party political offices
Preceded by Chair of the Georgia Democratic Party
Acting
2013		 Succeeded by
DuBose Porter
Preceded by Chair of the Georgia Democratic Party
2019–present		 Incumbent
Georgia Senate
Preceded by Member of the Georgia Senate
from the 39th district
2017–2021		 Succeeded by
Sonya Halpern
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Georgia's 5th congressional district
2021–present		 Incumbent
United States order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
287th		 Succeeded by
Julia Letlow

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