Nikema Williams

Nikema Williams
Born	Nikema Natassha Williams 30 7, 1978
Birthplace	Columbus, Georgia, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Known for	U.S. Representative for Georgia's 5th congressional district; Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia (2019–2025)
Education	Talladega College (BA)
Spouse(s)	Leslie Small
Children	1
Website	[Official House website Official site]

Nikema Natassha Williams (Template:IPAc-en; born July 30, 1978) is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Georgia's 5th congressional district, a seat that encompasses nearly three-quarters of Atlanta and was held for more than three decades by civil rights icon John Lewis. A member of the Democratic Party, Williams was selected by the party's executive committee to replace Lewis on the November 2020 ballot following his death in July of that year, and she won the general election that November. Before entering Congress, Williams represented the 39th district in the Georgia State Senate from 2017 to 2021 and served as Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia from 2019 to 2025. Born in Columbus, Georgia, and a graduate of Talladega College, Williams built a career in political organizing and advocacy before seeking elected office. Her family history includes a direct connection to the civil rights movement: her great-aunt, Autherine Lucy, was the first Black student to attend the University of Alabama in 1956. In Congress, Williams has focused on voting rights, reproductive rights, housing, childcare, and education policy.

Early Life

Nikema Natassha Williams was born on July 30, 1978, in Columbus, Georgia. She grew up in the southern Georgia city, which sits along the Chattahoochee River on the Alabama border. Williams has spoken publicly about her family's connection to the civil rights movement in the American South. Her great-aunt, Autherine Lucy, became a nationally significant figure in 1956 when she enrolled as the first Black student at the University of Alabama, an act that provoked riots on campus and led to her expulsion. Lucy was not formally reinstated by the university until 1988 and eventually received an honorary doctorate. Williams has cited her great-aunt's courage as a formative influence on her own commitment to public service and social justice.

Growing up in Columbus, Williams was exposed to the political and racial dynamics of a mid-sized Georgia city with a significant military presence due to Fort Benning (now Fort Moore). Details of her parents' occupations and her childhood household are not extensively documented in available sources, but Williams has described herself as someone who was drawn to activism and community engagement from a young age.

Education

Williams attended Talladega College, a historically Black liberal arts college in Talladega, Alabama, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. Talladega College, founded in 1867, is the oldest historically Black college in Alabama. Williams's choice of an HBCU in Alabama — the same state where her great-aunt Autherine Lucy had broken racial barriers at the University of Alabama — carried personal significance. At Talladega, Williams was involved in campus organizations and developed an interest in political advocacy that would shape her subsequent career.

Career

Early Political Career and Advocacy

After completing her education, Williams moved to Atlanta, where she became active in Democratic politics and political organizing. She built a career in advocacy work, including roles with organizations focused on voter engagement and civic participation. Williams became involved with the Democratic Party of Georgia and worked in various capacities within the state party apparatus. By 2012, she had gained recognition as a political fundraiser and organizer; she was identified as one of several notable fundraising "bundlers" supporting Barack Obama's reelection campaign.

Williams served briefly as acting Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia from June 9, 2013, to August 31, 2013, filling in after the departure of Mike Berlon and before DuBose Porter assumed the role.

Georgia State Senate

In 2017, Williams won a special election to represent the 39th district in the Georgia State Senate, succeeding Vincent Fort, who had vacated the seat to run for mayor of Atlanta. The 39th district encompassed portions of Atlanta and surrounding areas in Fulton County. Williams was sworn in on December 5, 2017, and quickly established herself as an outspoken member of the Senate Democratic caucus.

Williams gained national attention in November 2018 when she was arrested at the Georgia State Capitol during a protest related to ballot counting in the closely contested 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election between Stacey Abrams and Brian Kemp. Williams and other demonstrators were taken into custody while calling for all absentee and provisional ballots to be counted. The arrest drew media coverage and was seen as emblematic of the tensions surrounding voting rights in Georgia during that election cycle. The charges against Williams and other protesters who had been arrested at the Capitol were subsequently dismissed.

During her tenure in the state Senate, Williams focused on issues including voting rights, maternal health, and economic equity. She served on several Senate committees and was a vocal advocate for expanding access to healthcare and strengthening protections for Georgia voters.

Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia

On January 26, 2019, Williams was elected Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia, succeeding DuBose Porter. Her election to lead the state party came at a time of significant momentum for Georgia Democrats following Abrams's narrow loss in the 2018 gubernatorial race and increased voter registration and turnout among Democratic-leaning constituencies across the state.

As state party chair, Williams oversaw the Democratic Party of Georgia during a period of historic political transformation. Georgia, long considered a reliably Republican state in presidential elections, shifted into competitive territory. Williams served as chair during the 2020 election cycle, in which Joe Biden became the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry Georgia since Bill Clinton in 1992. She also led the party through the January 2021 U.S. Senate runoff elections, in which Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff won both of Georgia's Senate seats, giving the Democratic Party control of the United States Senate.

Williams herself served as one of 16 Electoral College electors for Georgia following the 2020 presidential election, casting her vote for Biden.

Williams continued to serve as Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia until March 31, 2025, when she stepped down. She was succeeded on an acting basis by Matthew Wilson.

U.S. House of Representatives

Selection and Election (2020)

On July 17, 2020, U.S. Representative John Lewis, who had represented Georgia's 5th congressional district since 1987, died after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Lewis's death prompted an outpouring of tributes across the country and left a vacancy on the November 2020 ballot. Because Lewis had already won the Democratic primary for the seat in June 2020, the decision of who would replace him on the general election ballot fell to the executive committee of the Democratic Party of Georgia's 5th congressional district.

On July 20, 2020, the committee selected Williams as its nominee. The decision drew attention given the significance of the seat and the legacy of John Lewis. A separate special election was held to fill the remainder of Lewis's term for the final weeks of the 116th Congress; that race was won by Kwanza Hall.

Williams won the November 3, 2020, general election in the heavily Democratic district. She took office on January 3, 2021, succeeding Hall, who had served the brief remainder of Lewis's term.

Tenure in Congress

In Congress, Williams has positioned herself as a progressive Democrat representing one of the most reliably Democratic districts in the country. Georgia's 5th congressional district, which encompasses most of Atlanta including its downtown, midtown, and many surrounding neighborhoods, has a long history of electing Black representatives and has been a center of civil rights activism.

Williams has focused her legislative work on several key policy areas, including voting rights, reproductive rights, housing affordability, early childhood education, and childcare access.

Voting Rights

Consistent with the legacy of her predecessor John Lewis, Williams has been an advocate for voting rights legislation in Congress. She has spoken in favor of measures to expand voter protections and has been critical of efforts by state legislatures to impose new restrictions on voting access.

Reproductive Rights

Williams has been a vocal proponent of reproductive rights. In December 2025, she introduced a Congressional resolution, cosponsored by 109 other members of Congress, affirming reproductive freedom and declaring abortion a human right. In June 2025, Williams introduced a separate resolution in response to the case of Adriana Smith, a 30-year-old metro Atlanta woman whose case drew national attention and raised questions about the intersection of criminal law and reproductive health care in Georgia.

Housing

Williams has pursued bipartisan legislative efforts related to housing affordability and home repair. In November 2025, she cosponsored the Whole-Home Repairs Act of 2025 with Republican Congressman Troy Downing of Montana. The legislation was designed to address the national housing crisis by providing resources for home repairs and modifications.

Childcare and Education

Williams has advocated for increased investment in childcare and early childhood education. In November 2025, she joined with Representatives Judy Chu and Pete Stauber in a bipartisan, bicameral introduction of the COACH Act, legislation intended to support childcare providers in launching and growing small businesses.

In May 2025, Williams publicly advocated for increased funding for the federal Head Start program amid concerns about potential cuts to early childhood education funding at the federal level.

SNAP and Federal Budget

In October 2025, during a government shutdown, Williams urged congressional leaders to come to the negotiating table before Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits lapsed, emphasizing the impact of the shutdown on food assistance for vulnerable constituents.

Community Engagement

Williams has maintained an active presence in her Atlanta-based district. In August 2025, she held a town hall in Atlanta where constituents raised questions about a range of national and international issues, including the policies of the Trump administration and the situation in Gaza.

Williams has also been involved in community philanthropy. In late 2025, she participated in a donation effort alongside rapper T.I. and the African Methodist Episcopal Church that provided more than $800,000 to Morris Brown College, a historically Black college in Atlanta.

Personal Life

Nikema Williams is married to Leslie Small. The couple has one child. The family resides in Atlanta. Williams has spoken publicly about how her personal experiences as a mother have informed her legislative priorities, particularly regarding childcare, education, and maternal health.

Williams's great-aunt, Autherine Lucy, holds a significant place in American civil rights history as the first Black student to enroll at the University of Alabama in 1956. Williams has described this family connection as central to her sense of purpose in public life and has invoked Lucy's legacy in public remarks about the ongoing struggle for racial justice and equal opportunity.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Williams was among Georgia lawmakers who were affected by the virus. In early 2020, multiple Georgia state senators, including Williams, tested positive for or were exposed to COVID-19, prompting periods of self-isolation.

Recognition

Williams's selection to succeed John Lewis on the ballot for Georgia's 5th congressional district was itself a significant mark of recognition within Georgia's Democratic establishment, reflecting the confidence of party leaders in her ability to carry forward the legacy of one of the nation's most prominent civil rights figures.

As Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia from 2019 to 2025, Williams was recognized as a leader within the national Democratic Party structure. She was listed among the party's state leadership by the Democratic National Committee.

Her 2018 arrest at the Georgia State Capitol, while a subject of controversy, brought her additional national visibility and was covered by major outlets including Mother Jones. The subsequent dismissal of charges against her and fellow protesters was reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Williams's work on behalf of voting rights, reproductive freedom, and early childhood education has been covered by regional and national media outlets, including The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, WABE, Georgia Public Broadcasting, and CBS News.

Legacy

Williams represents a generational shift in the politics of Georgia's 5th congressional district, succeeding a seat held for 33 years by John Lewis, one of the original Freedom Riders and a leader of the American civil rights movement. Her assumption of the seat in January 2021 marked the beginning of a new chapter for a district that has long been a center of Black political power in the American South.

Her tenure as Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia coincided with what many observers described as a fundamental transformation of the state's political landscape. Under her leadership, the party oversaw the flipping of Georgia's electoral votes in a presidential election for the first time in 28 years and the election of two Democratic U.S. senators in January 2021 runoffs. While these outcomes were the product of many factors—including years of voter registration work by organizations such as Stacey Abrams's New Georgia Project and Fair Fight Action—Williams's role as party chair during this period placed her at the organizational center of the effort.

Williams's family connection to Autherine Lucy provides a direct, multigenerational link between the mid-twentieth-century civil rights movement and contemporary political representation. This connection has been a recurring theme in media coverage of Williams's career and in her own public statements about the continuity of the struggle for racial justice and equal access to the democratic process.

In Congress, Williams has pursued a legislative agenda that reflects the priorities of her heavily urban, majority-minority district while also engaging in bipartisan collaborations on issues such as housing and childcare, reflecting an effort to build coalitions across party lines on specific policy concerns.