FILE PHOTO: State Senator Nikema Williams (D) speaks at a round table with abortion providers, health experts, pro-choice activists, and state legislators at the Georgia State House in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 16 May 2019. REUTERS / Elijah Nouvelage / File Photo
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Democratic Party in Georgia said Monday that it had chosen state Senator Nikema Williams as its candidate to run for the vacant U.S. House of Representatives seat after the death of civil rights icon John Lewis.
Lewis, 80, died Friday after being diagnosed late last year with pancreatic cancer.
Williams is the first black woman to be elected to head the Georgia Democratic Party. As a state senator, she represents cities like Atlanta and South Fulton.
Lewis had held his seat in the United States House since 1987 and with his selection, Williams is a favorite to win the election on November 3 in this strongly Democratic district that overwhelmingly voted for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential race. .
The Republican nominee who will now face Williams is African American Angela Stanton-King, who has been a television personality and served in prison after being implicated in a stolen vehicle ring in 2007. President Donald Trump forgave her of earlier this year.
Report by Richard Cowan; Editing by Alistair Bell
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