Ashwin Ramaswami, a 24-year-old Democrat, began his journey into politics as an intern at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. His career took a political turn when former President Donald Trump fired his boss over disputes regarding voter fraud claims in the 2020 election. Now, Ramaswami is running for Georgia State Senate in District 48 against Shawn Still, the Republican incumbent and a Trump ally who faces legal challenges for allegedly trying to overturn the election results.

Campaigning for Integrity and Democracy

Ramaswami launched his campaign with a mission to protect the legitimacy of election results and ensure every person’s right to vote in Georgia. His candidacy emphasizes a commitment to integrity and honesty in politics, qualities he believes are often lacking in many political leaders today.

“The message…is this idea of the next generation of folks taking stuff into their own hands and saying that we will stand up for integrity and honesty in politics in a way that too often a lot of people running for office don’t do,” Ramaswami said. He has garnered significant support, vastly outraising his opponent, Shawn Still, in recent campaign contributions. Ramaswami raised $146,442 in the latest filing period and over $282,000 since launching his campaign in December, with only a small fraction being self-funded.

Upholding Election Integrity

Central to Ramaswami’s campaign is the issue of election integrity. He has criticized Shawn Still’s actions, alleging that Still undermined the power of Georgians by supporting fake electors and attempting to declare false election results. “It’s important for our representatives to respect our vote,” said Ramaswami. “What Shawn Still did and what the fake electors did undermined the power of all Georgians.”

Ramaswami’s experience at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, where he worked under Christopher Krebs, involved researching election misinformation and vulnerabilities in election systems. His background has shaped his campaign focus on safeguarding elections from interference and ensuring transparency.

Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

As a first-time political candidate, Ramaswami faces challenges, including appealing to voters in a district that has been redrawn to favor Republicans. Despite this, he remains optimistic, believing his message and coalition-building efforts will resonate with voters leading up to the election.

Ashwin Ramaswami’s candidacy represents a young voice standing up for integrity and democracy in Georgia. His campaign highlights the importance of election integrity and the need for political leaders who prioritize honesty and respect for the electoral process.