Biography

Nikema Williams, born on July 30, 1978, in Columbus, Georgia, is a dedicated public servant and advocate for social justice. Raised by her grandparents in Smiths Station, Alabama, she experienced firsthand the challenges faced by marginalized communities. Williams has been a steadfast champion for voting rights, reproductive justice, and economic equity throughout her career. In 2020, she was elected to represent Georgia's 5th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, succeeding her mentor, the late Congressman John Lewis. Prior to her congressional tenure, Williams served in the Georgia State Senate from 2017 to 2021 and was the first Black woman to chair the Democratic Party of Georgia from 2019 to 2025.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Talladega College, a historically Black liberal arts institution in Talladega, Alabama.

• Political Experience:

  • Vice President of Public Policy for Planned Parenthood Southeast, where she advocated for reproductive health and rights across Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi.
  • Deputy Political Director at the National Domestic Workers Alliance, focusing on labor rights and economic justice.
  • Elected to the Georgia State Senate in 2017, representing the 39th District, where she championed equitable public education and voting rights.
  • Arrested in 2018 during a peaceful protest at the Georgia State Capitol, advocating for every vote to be counted in the gubernatorial election, exemplifying her commitment to "Good Trouble."
  • Elected Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia in 2019, becoming the first Black woman to hold the position, and led the party through significant electoral successes.
  • Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2020, where she continues to advocate for voting rights, social justice, and economic equity.

Notable Achievements and Positions

• Legislative Initiatives:

  • Introduced the John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Act, creating a fellowship within the Fulbright Program to support scholars studying nonviolent civil rights movements abroad, thereby promoting Congressman Lewis's legacy globally.
  • Introduced the Water Infrastructure Sustainability and Efficiency Act, aiming to permanently allocate 20% of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for environmentally friendly water infrastructure projects.

• Committee Assignments:

  • Serves on the House Financial Services Committee, contributing to oversight and legislation related to the nation's financial sector.

• Caucus Memberships:

  • Vice Chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus.
  • Member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Voting Rights Caucus, LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, and the HBCU Caucus, reflecting her commitment to a broad range of social justice issues.

• Awards and Recognitions:

  • Named one of Georgia Trend magazine’s 100 Most Influential Georgians.
  • Recipient of the Freshman Legislator of the Year award from the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus.
  • Honored with the 2020 Pinnacle Leadership Award from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Congresswoman Williams continues to honor the legacy of John Lewis by advocating for policies that promote equity, justice, and the empowerment of marginalized communities.