NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Duluth, GA, May 20, 2026 — Georgia State Representative Ruwa Romman and Democratic challenger Rahul Garabadu are headed to a runoff election for Georgia Senate District 7 after neither candidate secured enough votes to avoid a second round of voting in the closely watched primary race.
The runoff election is scheduled for June 16 and will determine who advances as the Democratic nominee for the Gwinnett County-based district, which includes Berkeley Lake, Duluth, Norcross, Lawrenceville, Peachtree Corners, and Suwanee.
Romman, a two-term state representative from House District 97, declared victory in a statement following the primary and emphasized the campaign’s grassroots operation.
“Thank you to the Democratic voters of Senate District 7 for voting for our campaign and participating in a record-breaking primary turnout,” Romman said. She noted that her campaign received “more votes than any Democratic primary campaign in the history of our district” despite being “outspent almost 3 to 1.”
Romman said her campaign reached more than 5,200 doors, made tens of thousands of phone calls, and raised nearly $80,000 in a 54-day period.
“Our race is now going to a runoff,” she said. “We will spend every day until June 16 informing voters of our progressive record and what we have been able to deliver in the past four years.”
Romman highlighted legislative efforts she said included securing $50 million for Gwinnett County road improvements, supporting teacher pay increases, and lowering property taxes without reducing school funding.
She also used her statement to criticize Republican efforts involving proposed redistricting changes, calling them “racially motivated efforts to disenfranchise our voices.”
Garabadu, meanwhile, struck an optimistic tone in a social media statement following the results, thanking supporters and acknowledging fellow candidate Astrid Ross.
“It’s official: we are heading on to the Runoff Primary Election on June 16th,” Garabadu wrote. “Out of thousands of ballots cast, we finished this race just a few hundred votes off a first-place finish against a sitting state legislator.”
He praised Ross for running “a campaign focused on the issues” and said he was looking forward to the next phase of the race.
“We will continue to meet voters where they are and share important information about the crucial fights ahead for our state,” Garabadu said.
Garabadu enters the runoff portraying himself as a candidate capable of mounting a strong challenge against an incumbent legislator, arguing that the primary results demonstrated momentum for his campaign.
With both candidates now turning their focus to turnout efforts, the next several weeks are expected to bring intensified voter outreach across Gwinnett County as the Democratic race heads into a decisive runoff.
