The Democratic Party in Georgia has named the successor to Rep. John Lewis, who died over the weekend.
The party Chairwoman Nikema Williams, who is also a state senator, was tapped to appear on the ballot for the congressional seat in November, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The state party’s executive committee met virtually on Monday and picked Williams as the replacement. She was one of five finalists among more than 130 people who applied to fill the vacancy.
“Congressman John Lewis was America’s greatest champion in the fight for justice and equality, and showed us all how to put the people first,” Williams said on social media before being selected. “His legacy of Good Trouble will ring on in generations to follow. He was my hero and my friend, and I will miss him very much.”
The other finalists were Rep. Park Cannon, Atlanta City Councilman Andre Dickens, former Morehouse College President Robert Franklin, and Georgia NAACP President James Woodall.
Lewis, 80, was a confidante of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and was among the last surviving leaders of the civil rights movement. He died on Friday after being diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer late last year.
The congressman had represented Georgia’s 5th Congressional District since 1987, and Williams is expected to win the seat given the district’s liberal lean.
