NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Duluth, GA, April 5, 2025–State Senator Nabilah Islam Parkes has officially announced her candidacy for Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia, positioning herself as a bold and battle-tested leader ahead of a critical election year.
In a statement released on Thursday, Islam Parkes said she is running to bring strong leadership to the state party and to ensure Democrats are elected at all levels. “We need bold leadership who won’t back down from a fight,” she said. “I will hold the GOP’s feet to the fire and fight to elect Democrats up and down the ballot.”
The 2024 election cycle is expected to play a key role in shaping national outcomes, including the re-election of Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff, which Islam Parkes called a top priority. “We won in 2020 and 2022 by energizing our base while also appealing to new voters, and we can do it again,” she added.
Islam Parkes brings both legislative experience and a background in grassroots organizing and political fundraising. A first-generation American, she grew up in Gwinnett County and graduated from Georgia State University with the help of the HOPE scholarship while working part-time in retail to support herself.
Her political career began at the local level and expanded to national efforts. She worked on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign and later at the Democratic National Committee, where she helped raise millions of dollars for Southern campaigns. She also played a pivotal role in the 2020 election cycle, serving as Senior Advisor to the Gwinnett Democratic Party and leading outreach to Asian and Latino communities. During the Senate runoffs, she founded and led “Save Our Senate,” an effort that mobilized over 34,000 voters.
In 2022, Islam Parkes made history by becoming the youngest woman, the first Muslim woman, and the first South Asian woman elected to the Georgia State Senate. Representing District 7, which includes parts of Gwinnett County, she has advocated for Medicaid expansion, the elimination of sales tax on essential goods like diapers and menstrual products, and gun safety reforms. She currently serves as Chair of the Gwinnett Senate Delegation.
Her work has earned national recognition. In 2024, she was nominated for EMILY’s List’s Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award, which honors women in public office who are making a significant impact. She is also set to become the first woman in the Georgia Senate to give birth while in office.
Islam Parkes emphasized her commitment to building a stronger Democratic Party infrastructure across Georgia. “I’ll do everything I can to strengthen the party in every corner of the state – every county, every city, every precinct,” she said.
No other candidates have officially declared their intention to run for the position, which is currently held by Chairwoman Nikema Williams. If elected, she would be the first Muslim woman to lead the Democratic Party of Georgia.
