Nikema Williams
Bio | Nikema Williams graduated from Talladega College and then launched her career in politics and leadership. This started as serving as vice-president at Planned Parenthood Southeast and she then worked her way up to the U.S. House of Representatives. |
Status and Position | Current US House of Representatives of Georgia |
Political Party and Jurisdiction | Democrat, Georgia |
Elections | Election Jurisdiction | Started Campaign | Campaign Status | Poll Rankings (of the vote) |
| 2020 House of Representatives Election GA-05 | GA-05 | Yes | Running | N/A |
Campaign Financing | The majority of Williams' funding has come individual contributions and self-financing, with a minimal amount coming from PACs. Williams has been endorsed by prominent individuals such as Stacey Abrams, Joe Biden, and Corey Booker as well as political organizations and committees such as the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Medicare for All, and the Human Rights Campaign. Source: https://www.opensecrets.org/races/candidates?cycle=2020&id=GA05&spec=N, https://www.nikemaforcongress.com/endorsements-2 |
Voting Rights | Williams strongly advocates for reforms to the voting system that make is more accessible and equitable, such as passage of the John Lewis Voting Act, automatic voter registration, same day voter registration, and re-enfranchisement of those who have been incarcerated. Source: https://www.nikemaforcongress.com/issues-new |
Opinions on Issues
Issues | Stance | Summary |
| Universal Healthcare | For | Williams believes that health care is a basic human right and as such, seeks to make it accessible and affordable for all. Source: https://www.nikemaforcongress.com/issues-new Williams supports Medicare for All and universal family care that allows individuals to receive care and medical attention regardless of their socioeconomic status. Source: https://www.nikemaforcongress.com/issues-new |
| Socialized Healthcare | For | Williams supports socialized healthcare measures such as paid family and medical leave, economic relief for family caretakers, and affordable, accessible medical treatment. Source: https://www.nikemaforcongress.com/issues-new |
| Private Healthcare | Nuance | Williams has not necessarily advocated for the elimination of private healthcare, however she does see the current healthcare system as flawed and instead calls for universal health coverage. Source: https://www.nikemaforcongress.com/issues-new |
| LGBT Rights | For | Williams has not disclosed specific policy views as to how she wishes to address LGBT rights, however she stands by LGBTQ+ folks as an ally and has fought alongside them openly and actively. Source: https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/hrc-endorses-warnock-for-u-s-senate-bush-and-williams-for-u-s-house, https://www.projectq.us/join-us-for-a-q-conversations-live-event-with-nikema-williams/ Williams has been endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign, which is an organization which advocates equal rights for those in the LGBT community. Source: https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/hrc-endorses-warnock-for-u-s-senate-bush-and-williams-for-u-s-house, https://www.projectq.us/join-us-for-a-q-conversations-live-event-with-nikema-williams/ |
| Taxes | Nuance | Williams has not disclosed much about her stance on taxes, however she has publicly opposed tax breaks to the wealthy at the expense of middle class and working families. Source: https://publish.twitter.com/?query=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FDPGChair%2Fstatus%2F1276546120257241088&widget=Tweet Williams has openly opposed Georgia legislation creating tax breaks for corporations in favor of funnelling taxes back into public institutions and utilities instead. However, she has also supported giving tax breaks to companies and corporations who have supported public welfare initiatives, suggesting that she is in favor for some tax breaks for companies who are giving back to their communities. Source: https://publish.twitter.com/?query=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FDPGChair%2Fstatus%2F1276546120257241088&widget=Tweet, https://www.seattletimes.com/business/georgia-senate-to-vote-on-tax-bill-delta-benefit-Dropped Out/ |
| Flat Tax Rate | Unknown | Williams has openly opposed Georgia legislation creating tax breaks for corporations in favor of funnelling taxes back into public institutions and utilities instead. However, she has also supported giving tax breaks to companies and corporations who have supported public welfare initiatives, suggesting that she is in favor for some tax breaks for companies who are giving back to their communities. Source: https://publish.twitter.com/?query=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FDPGChair%2Fstatus%2F1276546120257241088&widget=Tweet, https://www.seattletimes.com/business/georgia-senate-to-vote-on-tax-bill-delta-benefit-Dropped Out/ |
| Abortion | For | Williams is a strong advocate for abortion access and is endorsed by organizations such as NARAL Pro-Choice America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Source: https://www.nikemaforcongress.com/endorsements-2 Williams voted against Bill HB 481, which prohibits abortion after the first heartbeat is detected. Williams sees abortion access healthcare issue as well as a social justice issue and views laws prohibiting abortion as a danger to women's health and well-being. Source: https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/176751/nikema-williams/75/abortion-and-reproductive, https://www.georgiademocrat.org/democratic-party-of-georgia-chair-nikema-williams-statement-on-house-passage-of-abortion-ban-legislation/ |
| Gun Control | For | Williams favors gun control measures and is endorsed by Everytown for Gun Safety, an organization promoting gun restrictions and regulations such as background checks and disarming abusers. Source: https://www.nikemaforcongress.com/endorsements-2, https://everytown.org/press/everytown-for-gun-safety-action-fund-endorses-jon-ossoff-and-rev-raphael-warnock-for-u-s-senate-state-sen-nikema-williams-and-carolyn-bourdeaux-for-u-s-house/ |
| Assisted Suicide | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Government Interference | Nuance | Williams supports welfare measures that require some government interference, for example, Medicare expansion and universal healthcare, environmental protections and regulations, criminal justice reform, and increased access to education, to name just a few. Source: https://www.nikemaforcongress.com/issues-new |
| Planned Parenthood | For | Williams is a strong advocate for abortion access and is highly affiliated with Planned Parenthood, serving as Vice President of Public Policy for Planned Parenthood Southeast. Source: https://www.nikemaforcongress.com/endorsements-2, https://democrats.org/who-we-are/state-parties/leadership/nikema-williams/ |
| Welfare | For | Williams has expressed support for a range of welfare measures to expand healthcare coverage, promote environmental, social, and criminal justice, and increase access to education. Source: https://www.nikemaforcongress.com/issues-new Williams is an advocate for universal healthcare and Medicare for All, as well as safe abortion access, government support of schools, and rehabilitation of incarcerated people., among other social justice and welfare-oriented measures. Source: https://www.nikemaforcongress.com/issues-new |
| Welfare | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Death Penalty | Against | Williams has not directly addressed the death penalty but overall, she is opposed to harsh sentencing for those convicted of crimes and instead advocates for rehabilitation and a holistic approach to criminal justice. Source: https://www.nikemaforcongress.com/issues-new Williams believes that the criminal justice system's hyperfocus on punishment over rehabilitation is hindering those convicted from creating a better life for themselves and learning from their mistakes. Source: https://www.nikemaforcongress.com/issues-new |
| Mandatory Prison Sentence | Against | Williams advocates for complete reform of the criminal justice and prison system and instead calls for a defunding of the police, and redistribution of taxpayer dollars away from the prison-industrial complex and into community care and rehabilitation programs as outlined by the Breathe Act. She has also voted for more penalties for bias-motivated/hate crime and for rights for pregnant inmates. Source: https://www.nikemaforcongress.com/issues-new, https://breatheact.org/learn-more/, https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/176751/nikema-williams |
| Military Spending | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| War on Terrorism | Nuance | Williams has expressed little about her views on the war on domestic terrorism. Instead, she emphasizes domestic terrorism as enacted by groups such as the KKK and other such hate crimes that she believes deserves to be addressed through gun legislation and civil rights protections. Source: https://www.georgiademocrat.org/tag/nikema-williams/, https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/176751/nikema-williams |
| Foreign Policy International Interaction | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| United Nations power | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Nationalism | Against | Williams sees white nationalism as a serious threat to marginalized communities and calls for action against white supremacists and nationalists. Source: https://www.georgiademocrat.org/dpg-statement-on-vernon-jones-at-republican-national-convention/, https://www.georgiademocrat.org/tag/nikema-williams/ |
| Free Markets | Nuance | Williams has not openly condemned the free market , however she does see the government as failing to help its constituents prosper economically by not being involved enough. Source: https://www.nikemaforcongress.com/issues-new, https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2020/11/07/nikema-williams-to-succeed-congressman-john-lewis-in-5th-district-win/ Williams believes the government has failed to step up and help individuals in marginalized communities achieve economic opportunity as well as inadequately addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. Source: https://www.nikemaforcongress.com/issues-new, https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2020/11/07/nikema-williams-to-succeed-congressman-john-lewis-in-5th-district-win/, https://www.ajc.com/issues-2020/issues-house-5-general/ |
| Brexit | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Affirmative Action | For | Williams is a long-time outspoken advocate for the expansion of rights and opportunities for marginalized communities and has endorsed affirmative action policy that seeks to broaden representation in government and politics. Source: https://www.georgiademocrat.org/georgia-democrats-adopt-delegate-selection-plan-for-2020-national-convention/, https://www.democracyforamerica.com/site/our_candidates/844-nikema-for-congress |
| Government Spending | For | Williams supports government spending when it comes to welfare, clean energy technologies and jobs, new infrastructures, affordable healthcare, access to education, and COVID-19 relief, among other measures focusing on health and social justice. Source: https://www.nikemaforcongress.com/issues-new, https://www.ajc.com/issues-2020/issues-house-5-general/ |
| Charter Schools | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Common Core | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Clean Energy | For | Williams is a strong proponent for clean energy, green jobs, and improvements to public transit systems in order to reduce carbon emissions and alleviate the environmental pressures disproportionately placed on marginalized communities. Source: https://www.nikemaforcongress.com/issues-new Williams supports The Green New Deal and the complete transition to clean energy nationwide by 2050 in order to adequately and aggressively address climate change and protect the well-being of American communities. Source: https://www.nikemaforcongress.com/issues-new |
| Religious Freedom | For | Williams has not directly addressed religious freedom, however she is an active proponent of LGBTQ+ and abortion access, believing that individuals should have the freedom to live in accordance with their values and beliefs. Source: https://www.nikemaforcongress.com/issues-new, https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/176751/nikema-williams Williams is endorsed by organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign, NARAL Pro-Choice America, and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund which promote equal rights for all irrespective of religion. She also voted against bill SB 375, which authorizes child-placement agencies to deny services based on religion. Source: https://www.nikemaforcongress.com/endorsements-2, https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/176751/nikema-williams |
| Separation of Church and State | For | Williams supports marriage equality and reproductive freedom, seeing these as human rights that cannot be limited by the government. Source: https://www.nikemaforcongress.com/issues-new, https://www.nikemaforcongress.com/endorsements-2, https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/176751/nikema-williams |
| Slavery Reparations | For | Williams is a huge proponent for racial equality, calling on policymakers to address disenfranchisement of black voters, reform the prison industrial complex, reform the police, and expand opportunities and protections to marginalized communities in order to tackle systemic racism and injustice. Source: https://www.nikemaforcongress.com/issues-new, https://www.ajc.com/issues-2020/issues-house-5-general/ |
| Border Control | Against | Williams does not support the harsh treatment of undocumented immigrants by border patrol and is an ally to immigrant communities and Dreamers. Source: https://www.asianamericanadvocacyfund.org/endorsement-archive/2020-williams-ushd5, https://www.georgiademocrat.org/dpg-chair-nikema-williams-statement-on-disturbing-abuse-allegations-at-irwin-county-detention-center/, https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/supreme-court-upholds-protections-for-dreamers-immigration-ruling/hqNiFF7N3vN6FHDnjMh4LM/ Williams has expressed concern over the allegations of abuse and mistreatment by ICE and border patrol and calls for humane treatment of undocumented people. She also stands by Dreamers and supports DACA's aim to legally give them citizenship. Source: https://www.asianamericanadvocacyfund.org/endorsement-archive/2020-williams-ushd5, https://www.georgiademocrat.org/dpg-chair-nikema-williams-statement-on-disturbing-abuse-allegations-at-irwin-county-detention-center/, https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/supreme-court-upholds-protections-for-dreamers-immigration-ruling/hqNiFF7N3vN6FHDnjMh4LM/ |
| Passenger Profiling | Against | Williams is strongly against any form of discriminatory act targeting marginalized groups and calls for police and prison reform to address the disproportionate incarceration of people of color due to these discriminatory acts. Source: https://www.nikemaforcongress.com/issues-new |
| DACA | For | Williams supports Dreamers and DACA and wants to make citizenship more accessible for undocumented immigrants. Source: https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/supreme-court-upholds-protections-for-dreamers-immigration-ruling/hqNiFF7N3vN6FHDnjMh4LM/ |
| Sanctuary Cities | Nuance | Williams has not directly addressed the issue of sanctuary cities, however she has voiced her support for the protection and humane treatment of undocumented immigrants and is an ally with Dreamers and DACA. Source: https://www.asianamericanadvocacyfund.org/endorsement-archive/2020-williams-ushd5, https://www.georgiademocrat.org/dpg-chair-nikema-williams-statement-on-disturbing-abuse-allegations-at-irwin-county-detention-center/, https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/supreme-court-upholds-protections-for-dreamers-immigration-ruling/hqNiFF7N3vN6FHDnjMh4LM/ |
| Legalizing Marijuana | For | Williams supports the recreational use of marijuana and does not believe it deserves criminal punishment. Source: https://www.nikemaforcongress.com/issues-new |