Nabilah Islam

American politician

Nabilah Islam Parkes

Islam in 2022

Member of the Georgia Senate
from the 7th district

Incumbent

Assumed office
January 2023
Preceded by| Tyler Harper
Personal details
Born|  (1989-11-27) November 27, 1989 (age 34)[1]
Political party| Democratic
Residence| Duluth, Georgia
Education| Georgia State University (BBA)
Website| Campaign website

Nabilah Islam Parkes[2] (née Islam; born November 27, 1989) is an American activist and politician from the state of Georgia who is the Georgia State Senator for the 7th district as a result of the 2022 Georgia State Senate election.[3][4] She became the first Muslim woman in the Georgia State Senate. She previously ran to represent Georgia's 7th congressional district in 2020.

## Early life and education

[edit]

Islam was born in the United States to parents from Bangladesh and grew up in Norcross and Lawrenceville. Her father worked as a file clerk at the Internal Revenue Service and her mother, originally from Noakhali, worked various low-wage jobs, at one point as a cook at Hardee's and in a warehouse.[5][6] An insurance company tried to deny health benefits to her mother after she took time off work due to a herniated disc, leading Islam to become an advocate for expanded healthcare.[7]

Islam graduated from Central Gwinnett High School and Georgia State University with a BBA in marketing.[8]

## Career

[edit]

Islam previously served as campaign manager for the first Atlanta City Council term of Andre Dickens, who was elected mayor of Atlanta in 2021. She also worked on the campaign of Jason Carter for Georgia governor and the presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton, and for the Democratic National Committee. She also served as senior advisor to the Gwinnett County Democratic Party in 2020. She re-chartered and served as President of the Gwinnett County Young Democrats in 2013.[9]

### 2020 congressional campaign

[edit]

Further information: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Georgia § District_7

Islam ran in the Democratic primary for Georgia's 7th congressional district in 2020. She was endorsed by  U.S. Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York,[10] Ilhan Omar of Minnesota,[11] and Ro Khanna of California.[12] During the campaign, Islam supported Medicare for All and a $15 federal minimum wage.[13] She placed a close third with 12.3% of the vote.[14]

Islam struggled with paying rent, did not have healthcare, and put her student loan debt into forbearance during the campaign due to not being able to work full time.[15] She filed a formal petition to the Federal Elections Commission to allow candidates to use campaign contributions for a minimum salary and health benefits. She charged that current regulations barred working-class people from running for office and the petition was supported by Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause, and Issue One.[16][17] In December 2023, the FEC approved the rule change in a 5-1 vote.[18]

### Member of the Georgia Senate (2023-present)

[edit]

#### 2022 campaign

[edit]

With the backing of U.S. Representative Lucy McBath, Islam entered the Democratic primary for the 7th district of the Georgia State Senate in 2022.[19] The district, a new open seat, is entirely in Gwinnett County and leans towards Democrats.[20] She was endorsed by Fair Fight Action, a voting rights organization founded by Georgia politician Stacey Abrams.[21] She defeated State Representative Beth Moore in the primary with just over 50% of the vote and subsequently defeated Republican Josh McKay in the general election with roughly 53% of the vote.[3][22]

Islam represents Georgia's 7th Senate district encompassing Peachtree Corners, Berkeley Lake, Norcross, Duluth, Suwanee, and Lawrenceville in Gwinnett County.[23]

She serves on the Government Oversight Committee, the Veterans, Military and Homeland Security Committee, the State Institutions and Properties Committee and the Science and Technology Committee.[24] She is also the Vice-Chair of the Gwinnett Senate legislative delegation.[25] Sen. Islam is a member of Georgia’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus and Hispanic Caucus, and a member of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus and Working Families Caucus.[26] She was recognized by Georgia Asian Times as one of the 25 most influential Asian Americans in Georgia.

#### Tenure

[edit]

Following the 2023 Atlanta shooting, Islam was among a group of four Democratic legislators to call for a special legislative session to address firearm safety.[27]

In April 2024, Senate Bill 144,[28] the first bill sponsored by Islam that passed into law, was signed by the governor. The law, which arose from Islam's service on the Senate Committee on Veterans, Military, and Homeland Security, will reduce administrative burdens on the state militia, save taxpayer dollars, and protect commissioned officers.[29]

## Personal life

[edit]

Islam lives in Duluth with her husband Bryan, and is stepmother to two daughters.[30] She is Muslim.[6]

## Electoral history

[edit]

2020 Georgia's 7th congressional district Democratic primary[31] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Carolyn Bourdeaux | 44,710  | 52.8
| Democratic | Brenda Lopez Romero | 10,497  | 12.4
| Democratic | Nabilah Islam  | 10,447  | 12.3
| Democratic | Rashid Malik  | 6,780  | 8.0
| Democratic | John Eaves  | 6,548  | 7.7
| Democratic | Zahra Karinshak | 5,729  | 6.8
Total votes  | 84,711  | 100.0
2022 Georgia's 7th state senate district Democratic primary[31] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Nabilah Islam  | 5,745  | 50.3
| Democratic | Beth Moore | 5,668  | 49.7
Total votes  | 11,413  | 100.0
2022 Georgia's 7th state senate district general election[31] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Nabilah Islam  | 32,607  | 52.8
| Republican | Josh McKay  | 29,123  | 47.2
Total votes  | 61,730  | 100.0

## References

[edit]

1. ^ https://twitter.com/NabilahIslam/status/1597012546791256064?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^tweet
2. ^ Burns, Alexander (23 October 2023). "'People Are Hurt and Scared': How a Muslim American Leader in Georgia Is Confronting the War Nabilah Islam Parkes was the first Muslim American woman elected to the Georgia State Legislature. Here's her message to Joe Biden". Politico LLC. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
3. ^ a b Yeomans, Curt (May 25, 2022). "Nabilah Islam narrowly defeats state Rep. Beth Moore in state Senate District 7 race". Gwinnett Daily Post. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
4. ^ Elassar, Alaa (November 13, 2022). "Georgia candidate makes history as first known Muslim and Palestinian woman elected to state House". CNN. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
5. ^ Feller, Madison (May 18, 2020). "Nabilah Islam Gave Up Her Health Insurance To Run For Congress. Now What?". ELLE. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
6. ^ a b Farooq, Umar (June 8, 2020). "Meet Nabilah Islam, the Bangladeshi American trying to make Georgia progressive". Middle East Eye. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
7. ^ Brown, Marcia (June 4, 2020). "'My Name Is Nabilah Islam. It's an American Name.'". The American Prospect. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
8. ^ Varitek, Daniel (March 6, 2019). "Graduate challenges professor for 7th District". The Signal. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
9. ^ "We are proud to announce our fifth honoree Nabilah Islam". Facebook. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
10. ^ "Ocasio-Cortez endorses progressive Democrat in Georgia". The Hill. 19 May 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
11. ^ "Omar endorses progressive Georgia Democrat running for House seat". The Hill. 18 February 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
12. ^ "Ro Khanna Backs Nabilah Islam". The Intercept. 7 February 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
13. ^ "'Georgia's AOC' aims for state Senate seat in Gwinnett".
14. ^ "Democrat Carolyn Bourdeaux wins primary for open seat in Georgia suburbs". 16 June 2020.
15. ^ Levinthal, Dave (March 23, 2021). "Want to run for Congress but can't afford to pay your own rent or bills? This former House candidate has an idea". Business Insider. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
16. ^ McFadden, Alyce (July 1, 2021). "FEC to consider use of campaign funds to pay candidate salaries, health care costs". Open Secrets. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
17. ^ Ackley, Kate (June 29, 2021). "FEC reviewing rules on salaries, benefits for candidates". Roll Call. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
18. ^ Schouten, Fredreka (December 14, 2023). "FEC makes it easier for candidates to use campaign dollars to pay themselves". CNN. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
19. ^ Bluestein, Greg (January 4, 2022). "'Georgia's AOC' aims for state Senate seat in Gwinnett". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
20. ^ Niesse, Mark (November 15, 2021). "Final vote completes redistricting of Georgia General Assembly". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
21. ^ https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2022/05/23/fair-fight-democrats-georgia-primaries
22. ^ "Georgia 2022 Midterm Election Results for State Senate". WAGA-TV. November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
23. ^ "Georgia State Senate District 7". Ballotpedia. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
24. ^ "Nabilah Islam Parkes". Georgia State Senate. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
25. ^ "Official biography of Senator Nabilah Islam" (PDF). Georgia State Senate. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
26. ^ "Official biography of Senator Nabilah Islam" (PDF). Georgia State Senate. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
27. ^ DiRienzo, Rob (2023-05-08). "After Midtown shooting, group of Dem. lawmakers wants Kemp to call special session". FOX 5 Atlanta. Retrieved 2023-05-12.
28. ^ "Georgia Senate Bill 144". Georgia State Senate. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
29. ^ "Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes Celebrates Signage of First Bill Into Law". senatepress.net. 24 April 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
30. ^ "About Nabilah". Campaign website of Nabilah Islam. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
31. ^ a b c "Nabilah Islam".

## External links

[edit]

* Campaign website
* Profile at the Georgia State Senate

* v
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Members of the Georgia State Senate

157th General Assembly (2023–present)

President of the Senate
Burt Jones (R)
President pro tempore
John F. Kennedy (R)
Majority Leader
Steve Gooch (R)
Minority Leader
Gloria Butler (D)

1. ▌Ben Watson (R)
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3. ▌Mike Hodges (R)
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6. ▌Jason Esteves (D)
7. ▌Nabilah Islam (D)
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