Ashwin Ramaswami,25, Loses Narrowly In Georgia

 Photo: screengrab

India-West News Desk

ATLANTA, GA – GOP state Senator Shawn Still successfully defended his seat against Democratic challenger Ashwin Ramaswami, who aimed to become the first Indian American and Gen Z member of the Georgia Senate.

After a fierce battle and a campaign that Indian Americans said was filled with racism and taunts, Still won re-election with 53% of the vote, securing a 7,000-vote lead. The incumbent will represent Georgia’s 48th District, which encompasses parts of Johns Creek, Sugar Hill, and southern Forsyth County.

After the results were clear, the young Ramaswami announced his concession shortly after 11 p.m. on election night. “I called Shawn Still to congratulate him and wish him the best,” Ramaswami wrote on X. “I’m looking forward to working together on the issues that matter to our district. Our campaign brought together communities that have often been overlooked and turned out the vote like never before. Onwards and upwards!”

The race was one of the most expensive legislative contests in the state, with Ramaswami raising over $900,000—more than double Still’s $450,000 in campaign funds.

Still’s re-election bid was overshadowed by his involvement in a 2023 indictment tied to an alleged plot to illegally overturn the 2020 presidential election results in favor of Donald Trump. He faced charges including racketeering, impersonating a public officer, and forgery. Ramaswami, who worked in election cybersecurity for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, campaigned on his expertise in elections, contrasting it with Still’s controversial indictment, framing the contest as a choice between an election specialist and a “fake elector.”