Romman Wins Georgia Senate District 7 Seat
State Representative Ruwa Romman won election to Georgia's State Senate District 7, becoming the first Palestinian-American to serve in the chamber.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
Live Poll
Do you think elected officials should reflect the backgrounds of the communities they serve?
State Representative Ruwa Romman leads Republican Aizaz Shaikh 68% to 32% with 76% of the vote counted in the race for Georgia State Senate District 7. Romman will become the first Palestinian-American to serve in Georgia's State Senate.
Why it matters
The result extends Georgia's recent pattern of expanding representation for Muslim and Palestinian-American lawmakers in state government. Romman previously became the first Muslim woman and Palestinian-American elected to the Georgia State Legislature in 2022.
Romman led Shaikh 68% to 32% with 76% of the vote counted as of 10:13 p.m. The reported figures reflect partial returns, and the remaining 24% of ballots had not yet been counted.
The players
Ruwa Romman
Romman is a Georgia state representative from Duluth who previously made history as the first Muslim woman and Palestinian-American elected to the state legislature.
Aizaz Shaikh
Shaikh is the Republican candidate who lost the Georgia State Senate District 7 race to Romman.
The details
Senate District 7 covers the Lawrenceville to Peachtree Corners portion of Gwinnett County. Romman defeated civil rights attorney Rahul Garabadu in the Democratic Primary Runoff despite Garabadu having more campaign funding.
Timeline
2022: Romman became the first Muslim woman and Palestinian-American elected to the Georgia State Legislature.
November 4, 2026: Romman won the State Senate District 7 election.
Political Context
Romman's Senate win builds directly on her 2022 election to the state House as the first Muslim woman and Palestinian-American in the Georgia Legislature. It marks an advance from the lower chamber to the state's upper chamber for the same historic lineage.
Georgia voters in Senate District 7 now have a state senator who will represent Lawrenceville, Peachtree Corners, and surrounding areas of Gwinnett County in the upper chamber. The seat's representation shifts from its prior arrangement to Romman's office once she takes the position.
The takeaway
Romman's win shows how state legislative races can produce firsts that shape who represents Georgia communities. Readers tracking state politics can watch how newly elected senators approach district priorities once they take office.
Further reading
Explore more Georgia elections coverage for context on the state's legislative races.
Live Poll
Do you think elected officials should reflect the backgrounds of the communities they serve?
