Asian American Techie Runs for Georgia’s State Senate with Sevā

The principle of Sevā—selfless service—has long been a guiding force in Hinduism and Sikhism, inspiring everyday individuals to act for the greater good without expectation of a reward. Now, in the race for Georgia State Senate, this timeless value is finding new meaning. Ashwin Ramaswami, a 25-year-old Indian American, is channeling Sevā into a bold campaign, aiming to challenge prevailing deception and inspire Asian Americans along the way.

Ramaswami is running in Georgia’s Senate 48 District to replace the district’s incumbent, State Senator Shawn Still(R)— a businessman and Republican indicted with Donald Trump in the election interference case. With an unconventional background in tech, law, and politics, he aims to empower the residents of Georgia while paving the way for future AAPI leaders.

If not running for office, Ramaswami might have followed a more conventional path like many of his recently graduated peers—working for a big tech company, earning a high salary, and establishing a comfortable lifestyle by his early thirties. However, he chose a different route. While pursuing tech at Stanford University and law at Georgetown Law School, Ramaswami spent three years building a cybersecurity program within the federal government. Though his former colleagues continue that work, he discovered a deeper mission: safeguarding democracy not just through program design, but by running for local office.

Ramaswami’s federal work on cybersecurity and election security has allowed him to recognize the need for individuals who understand these issues in government. “When I saw the news that the current state senator has been criminally indicted for trying to overturn the results of our elections, I realized that we need people to stand up for what's right,” said Ramswami.

As the child of Asian-American immigrants, his heritage has been a contributing factor in shaping the strong sense of justice that ultimately propelled Ramaswami to run for State Senate. He said that his situation allowed him to take the best of his Indian heritage and American culture and shape them into a values-driven vision for public service.

Specifically, he mentioned the importance of Sevā in forming his value system. “Everything you've accomplished is not just by yourself, it's thanks to your entire community. It's thanks to all the circumstances that put you in a position to do something. And so keeping that in mind, keeping that gratitude in mind, how do you pay that forward? That's really what the idea of Sevā means.”

Though a political newcomer, Ramaswami has quickly garnered several prominent endorsements, including Sen. Jon Ossoff(D-GA), Rep. Lucy McBath(D-GA), and Rep. Ro Khanna(D-CA). “Democracy is on the ballot in Senate District 48,” stated Ossoff, “We need Ashwin in the State Senate - and I'm proud to stand behind him in this race.”

Ramaswami’s policy platform aligns mostly with traditional Democratic ideals. Drawing from his tech background, he also aims to make Georgia a 'sustainable tech hub' that fosters future job growth.

“I hope that as a young candidate, I'm able to look further into the future and think more about the long-term things our community needs,” said Ramaswami, who barely meets Georgia’s age requirement of 25 for State Senators.

“Politics is often a different ballgame. It's not just about who's the most talented in a particular issue. It's a lot about who you know, the connections, networking, and just meeting the right people. And there's a lot to learn there,” Ramaswami acknowledged, admitting that his campaign has been a significant learning experience for him.

Running against an incumbent remains a significant challenge for any candidate. Ramaswami’s transition from technology to law, and now to politics, only underscores the difficulty.

Regardless, Ramaswami noted he is confident that he can channel this previous experience to serve the residents of Georgia.

“You know what you're interested in, what your passion is, and you can go and pursue it. It doesn't matter that no one has done it before, because you could be that trailblazer,” said Ramaswami.

Inspired by figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Ramaswami expressed his hope that his campaign would also serves as an inspiration, particularly for young people within the AAPI community to which he belongs.

“I hope to inspire folks. No community is a monolith, and similarly, the AAPI community. It's such a diverse group of people. And there are many people who do care about STEM but a lot of people are much more interested in other fields. And my background is emblematic of that,” Ramaswami said.

Beyond Ramaswami’s political philosophy, he sees his candidacy as a way to give back to the community that has been so instrumental in his journey. Win or lose, Ramaswami said he hopes to strengthen the belief that young leaders can challenge the status quo and bring about meaningful change in their communities.