BY VEENA RAO
Norcross, GA, February 18, 2026: Civil rights attorney Rahul Garabadu has announced his candidacy for Georgia State Senate District 7, one of Gwinnett County’s most diverse districts.
Garabadu, a Norcross resident and the son of Indian immigrants, is running as a Democrat and positioning himself as a civil rights advocate focused on affordability, voting access, immigrant protections, and healthcare expansion. He is the son of Nivedita and Sanjoy Garabadu, who are long-time residents of Atlanta and well known in the local Indian American community.
Open seat as Nabilah Islam Parkes seeks statewide office
The District 7 seat is currently held by Democratic Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes, who is not seeking reelection because she is running for Georgia Insurance Commissioner in 2026. Her decision leaves the Gwinnett-area district — which includes communities such as Duluth, Norcross, and parts of Peachtree Corners and Suwanee — without an incumbent in the upcoming election, making the contest a closely watched open race.
Islam Parkes, first elected in 2022, has built a statewide profile on consumer protection and healthcare affordability issues, and her campaign for insurance commissioner has shifted the political landscape in the district she currently represents.
Civil rights background and legal career
Garabadu, who grew up in Georgia public schools and later graduated from Georgetown University and Harvard Law School, has built his career in civil rights law and public service.
According to his campaign announcement, he has worked as an ACLU attorney focusing on voting rights and later served as a civil rights prosecutor. His campaign says he has been involved in legal actions challenging Georgia’s electoral maps, advocating for detainee safety in county jails, and securing protections for families of children with disabilities who were denied daycare access.
Garabadu said he chose to return to Georgia after law school to work on civil rights issues and public service. His campaign also notes that he left a federal civil rights role during the Trump administration, citing concerns about the direction of civil rights enforcement.
He now lives in Norcross with his wife, Julia, a physician.
Campaign priorities
According to his website RahulforGa.com, Garabadu’s campaign centers on four main policy areas:
Lowering the cost of living: He has pledged to address rising housing, grocery, and healthcare costs, and says he will support policies aimed at easing financial pressure on working families.
Immigrant protections: As the son of immigrants, Garabadu says he will advocate for immigrant communities and oppose what he describes as government overreach in immigration enforcement.
Voting rights and democracy: His campaign highlights his legal work on voting access, including litigation related to district maps and voter roll policies.
Healthcare access: He supports expanding Medicaid in Georgia and reducing healthcare costs, citing his perspective as the spouse of a physician.
With no incumbent on the ballot, the District 7 contest is expected to draw significant attention from both parties in the lead-up to the May 2026 primary and the November general election.
Garabadu said his candidacy is rooted in public service and civil rights advocacy. Georgia, his campaign said, should not only be a place to live — but a place to thrive.
