Ashwin Ramaswami, the first Gen Z Indian-American vying for a position in a US State legislature, has amassed over $280,000 in campaign funds, a substantial sum particularly at the state level. According to the most recent public campaign finance report, Ramaswami’s campaign has garnered a total of more than $280,000, with $208,000 in cash on hand.
At 24 years old, Ramaswami has significantly outpaced his incumbent opponent, Shawn Still, raising 22 times more during the latest filing period from February 1 to April 30. While Ramaswami’s fundraising efforts yielded over $146,000, his opponent managed only $6,400. Both contenders are contesting for the State Senate seat in Georgia’s District 48.
Ramaswami’s campaign emphasized that their latest financial disclosures underscore the community’s emphasis on integrity and transparency in leadership. As a second-generation Indian-American with a professional background in software engineering, election security, and technology law and policy research, Ramaswami stressed the importance of grassroots support and momentum in his bid for office. He aims to prioritize issues such as education, small business support, technological advancement, and voting rights protection.
Highlighting the contrast between himself and Still, Ramaswami pointed out the incumbent’s alleged lack of leadership and integrity, particularly regarding his involvement in attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. Ramaswami’s campaign has garnered support from Congresswoman Lucy McBath of Georgia’s seventh Congressional district, who endorsed his candidacy due to his vision, experience, and commitment to upholding democracy.
A native of Georgia, Ramaswami has collaborated with various organizations to leverage technology for public good and job creation. He has also served in governmental roles, including at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), where he focused on cybersecurity and election security efforts, and as a legal fellow in the Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.
