ATLANTA, GA (TIP): Ashwin Ramaswami, the first Gen Z Indian American candidate running for a US state legislature, has won the Democratic primary in Georgia Senate District 48 and will face Republican Senator Shawn Still in November.
“In November, I’ll face Republican Senator Shawn Still – who was indicted alongside Trump for being a fake elector in 2020,” he posted on X. “It’s the most flippable State Senate seat in Georgia. Let’s go win this thing.”
If elected, Ramaswami, who has a background in computer science and law, would become the first Indian American as well as the first Gen Z state senator in the Georgia state legislature.
Born to Indian immigrant parents from Tamil Nadu, Ramaswami attended Chinmaya Mission Balavihar and later graduated with a computer science degree from Stanford University. His early education at Chinmaya sparked an interest in Sanskrit and ancient Indian texts, blending his dual identity of Indian and American cultures.
Ramaswami’s professional journey includes working with nonprofits, startups, and small businesses to leverage technology for public interest and job creation.
He has also served at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), focusing on cybersecurity and election security during the 2020 and 2022 elections. Additionally, he worked as a legal fellow in the Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.
With over $280,000 raised and $208,000 in cash on hand, Ramaswami’s campaign is well-positioned for the general election.
“I’ve always grown up with Indian culture and American culture growing up as well. I’m a Hindu. I’ve been very interested in Indian culture philosophy my whole life,” he said in a recent interview.
“I’m ready to build an economy that works for working families, ensure every child has the right to a world-class education, pass common sense gun safety laws, protect every family’s freedom to control their reproductive healthcare, and continue to defend our democracy from threats foreign and domestic,” he told Ballotpedia. “I truly believe we can live in that Georgia – that’s why I’m running for Georgia State Senate,” he said. “It’s time to reduce the extreme polarization in politics and work together on the issues that matter to us. I hope I can count on your support and your vote.”