State Representative-elect Ruwa Romman and state Senator-elect Nabilah Islam will be the first Muslim women in their respective chambers.
Their districts are in Northwest Gwinnett county, and the two women are making Georgia history.
Romman is also the first Palestinian elected to any Georgia public office.
“There are so many people, especially on social media that have been responding to me going, ‘I can’t believe this was in Georgia. I’m so shocked this was in Georgia.’ Frankly, I feel like this was overdue in Georgia,” Romman said. “Our new freshman class is incredibly diverse because Georgia is incredibly diverse.”
Romman said she’s ready to work on access to healthcare and improving public education.
Islam, elected to the state Senate, said she’s looking forward to meeting with the many communities that have already scheduled time to meet with her before the session starts next year.
“I’m elated that I can be a voice for not only the Muslim community, but all my constituents in Senate District 7 in Georgia,” she said.
Islam said she thinks there can be a success in working on bipartisan legislation on Medicare and also hopes to address access to abortion during her term.
Romman and Islam — who are both Democrats — will join two additional Muslim Americans elected to the Georgia statehouse.
Democrat Farooq Mughal will serve in the House of Representatives.
And Democrat Sheikh Rahman, who was the first Muslim elected to the state Senate, was re-elected.
