{{Short description|American politician (born 1993)}} {{Use American English|date=November 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Ruwa Romman | native_name = {{nobold|{{small|رواء رمان}}}} | native_name_lang = Arabic | image = Ruwa Romman.jpg | caption = Official portrait, 2024 | state_house = Georgia | district = 97th | term_start = January 9, 2023 | term_end = | predecessor = Beth Moore (redistricted) | successor = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|6|14}} | birth_place = Jordan | death_date = | death_place = | party = Democratic | spouse = Shahzaib Jiwani | education = Oglethorpe University (BA)<br> Georgetown University (MPP) | website = {{url|ruwaforgeorgia.com|Campaign website}} }} '''Ruwa Romman''' (Arabic: رواء رمان, born June 14, 1993) is an American politician serving as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives for the 97th district.<ref name="Three Palestinian-Americans">{{cite web | title=US midterms: Three Palestinian-Americans win seats | website=The New Arab | date=2022-11-09 | url=https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/us-midterms-three-palestinian-americans-win-seats | access-date=2022-11-12 | archive-date=November 9, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109155331/https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/us-midterms-three-palestinian-americans-win-seats | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Elassar |first=Alaa |date=2022-11-13 |title=Georgia candidate makes history as first known Muslim and Palestinian woman elected to state House {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/13/politics/ruwa-romman-elected-muslim-palestinian-georgia-house-of-representatives-ctrp/index.html |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115002320/https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/13/politics/ruwa-romman-elected-muslim-palestinian-georgia-house-of-representatives-ctrp/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Mariel |date=2022-11-28 |title=McCourt alumna wins big in Georgia House race |url=https://mccourt.georgetown.edu/news/ruwa-romman-georgia-house/ |access-date=2022-12-30 |website=McCourt School of Public Policy |language=en-US |archive-date=December 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230082258/https://mccourt.georgetown.edu/news/ruwa-romman-georgia-house/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A Democrat, she is the first Palestinian and Muslim woman elected to the body.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Salzer |first=James |title=GOP lose a few seats, keeps control of Legislature after redistricting |language=English |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |url=https://www.ajc.com/politics/gop-keeps-control-of-legislature-after-redistricting-as-expected/4NYVNPDE4JB4XNEHHBVESUWIAA/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |issn=1539-7459 |archive-date=November 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109155330/https://www.ajc.com/politics/gop-keeps-control-of-legislature-after-redistricting-as-expected/4NYVNPDE4JB4XNEHHBVESUWIAA/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Three Palestinian-Americans" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mithani |first=Jasmine |date=2022-12-12 |title=Why the 2022 election was historic for Muslim women's representation |url=https://19thnews.org/2022/12/muslim-women-made-history-midterm-elections/ |access-date=2022-12-30 |website=The 19th |language=en-us |archive-date=December 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230083416/https://19thnews.org/2022/12/muslim-women-made-history-midterm-elections/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She briefly ran for Governor of Georgia in the 2026 gubernatorial election, but withdrew before the primary and announced her campaign for State Senate.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Bluestein |first=Greg |title=Ruwa Romman to run for Georgia governor on progressive platform |url=https://www.ajc.com/politics/2025/09/ruwa-romman-to-run-for-georgia-governor-on-progressive-platform/ |access-date=2025-09-29 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |language=English |issn=1539-7459}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{cite web |last=Bluestein |first=Greg |date=February 26, 2026 |title=Democratic lawmaker quits race for Georgia governor |url=https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/02/democratic-lawmaker-quits-race-for-georgia-governor/ |access-date=February 26, 2026 |website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}}</ref>
==Early life and education== Romman was born in Jordan to a Palestinian family and moved to the United States when she was seven years old.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Helfand-Rogers |first=Candice |date=May 23, 2022 |title=Meet the Muslim Woman Running for Office in Georgia to Inspire, Win or Lose |url=https://thestoryexchange.org/ruwa-romman-muslim-woman-2022-primary-candidate-georgia-state-house/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=The Story Exchange |language=en-US |archive-date=November 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109155332/https://thestoryexchange.org/ruwa-romman-muslim-woman-2022-primary-candidate-georgia-state-house/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":4" /> Romman attended South Forsyth High School before going to Oglethorpe University and Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy.<ref name=":2" /> She graduated from McCourt with a Master of Public Policy in 2019.<ref name=":3" />
==Career== After graduation, Romman worked for Deloitte as a senior consultant.<ref name=":2" /> She has been involved in local politics and civic engagement groups since 2014 and co-founded the Georgia Volunteer Hub in 2020, which trained thousands of volunteers to support the Georgia Senate runoff election.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" />
In January 2022, Romman announced her candidacy for the Georgia House of Representative in District 97.<ref name=":3" /> On May 24, 2022, Romman won the Democratic primary against JT Wu.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |first= |date=May 25, 2022 |title=Georgia State House – District 97 Democratic Primary Results {{!}} Detroit Free Press |url=https://www.freep.com/elections/results/race/2022-05-24-state_house-D-GA-11848/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=www.freep.com |language=en |archive-date=November 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109155332/https://www.freep.com/elections/results/race/2022-05-24-state_house-D-GA-11848/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On November 8, 2022, Romman won the general election, making her the first Muslim woman to be elected into the Georgia State House of Representatives.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="Three Palestinian-Americans" />
During her 2022 campaign, Romman was endorsed by NARAL,<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 30, 2022 |title=NARAL Pro-Choice Georgia Endorses Charlie Bailey for Lieutenant Governor and Slate of 19 Candidates in Key State Legislative Races |url=https://www.prochoiceamerica.org/2022/08/30/naral-georgia-endorses-20-candidates/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=NARAL Pro-Choice America |language=en-US}}</ref> Fair Fight,<ref name=":2" /> the Georgia Working Families Party,<ref name=":2" /> and the Asian-American Advocacy Fund.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ruwa Romman |url=https://www.asianamericanadvocacyfund.org/endorsement-archive/ruwa-romman |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=Asian American Advocacy Fund |date=September 7, 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref> Romman campaigned on expanding health care access, protecting voting rights, supporting access to abortion and helping working families.<ref name=":0" />
On November 22, 2022, Romman was interviewed by journalist Peter Biello for Georgia Public Broadcasting.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Biello |first=Peter |title=Ruwa Romman feels 'huge responsibility' as first Muslim woman elected to the Georgia House |url=https://www.gpb.org/news/2022/11/22/ruwa-romman-feels-huge-responsibility-first-muslim-woman-elected-the-georgia-house |access-date=2022-12-30 |website=Georgia Public Broadcasting |date=November 22, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> In December 2022, Romman was interviewed by Geoff Bennett for a ''PBS News Hour'' segment titled "How Muslim American candidates made history in the midterms."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-02 |title=How Muslim American candidates made history in the midterms |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-muslim-american-candidates-made-history-in-the-midterms |access-date=2022-12-30 |website=PBS NewsHour |language=en-us |archive-date=December 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230081357/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-muslim-american-candidates-made-history-in-the-midterms |url-status=live }}</ref>
Since November 2022, Romman is part of Georgia's first formal "Legislative Asian American Pacific Islander Caucus."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Rachel |date=28 November 2022 |title=Lawmakers Announce Creation Of The First Formal Legislative Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Caucus In Georgia History – Georgia Senate Press Office |url=https://senatepress.net/lawmakers-announce-creation-of-the-first-formal-legislative-asian-american-pacific-islander-aapi-caucus-in-georgia-history.html |access-date=2022-12-30 |language=en-US |archive-date=December 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230083723/https://senatepress.net/lawmakers-announce-creation-of-the-first-formal-legislative-asian-american-pacific-islander-aapi-caucus-in-georgia-history.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
In August 2024, Romman was one of three Palestinian-American names put forward by the Uncommitted National Movement to speak at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. Upon refusal, the Uncommitted delegates staged a sit-in protest outside the doors of United Center and inside the security perimeter and stayed overnight before the last day of the convention.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Freishtat |first=Sarah |last2=Stevens |first2=Olivia |last3=Yin |first3=Alice |date=2024-08-21 |title=Despite backing from Mayor Brandon Johnson and other Illinois pols, effort to put Palestinian American speaker on DNC stage fails |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/08/21/members-of-the-squad-demand-palestinian-american-get-a-speaking-slot-at-dnc/ |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US |archive-date=August 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823021925/https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/08/21/members-of-the-squad-demand-palestinian-american-get-a-speaking-slot-at-dnc/ |url-status=live }}</ref> None of the names put forward were allowed to speak.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lanard |first=Noah |title=Exclusive: Here is the speech the Uncommitted movement wants to give at the DNC |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/08/dnc-speech-uncommitted-movement-harris-walz-ruwan-romman/ |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=Mother Jones |language=en-US |archive-date=August 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823060836/https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/08/dnc-speech-uncommitted-movement-harris-walz-ruwan-romman/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
On November 5, 2024, Romman won re-election in Georgia State House of Representatives for House District 97.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-07 |title=2024 GA State House General Election Results |url=https://www.usatoday.com/elections/results/2024-11-05/georgia/state-house |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=USA Today |language=en}}</ref>
=== 2026 gubernatorial campaign=== {{Main|2026 Georgia gubernatorial election}} On September 29, 2025, Romman announced she was running for Governor of Georgia in the 2026 election.<ref name=":5" /> She withdrew from the campaign on February 25, 2026, saying she saw no path to victory, and instead announced a campaign for the Georgia State Senate in the 7th district.<ref name=":6" /> She did not immediately endorse another candidate, but did say that that she opposed former Republican Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan's campaign for the Democratic nomination.<ref name=":6" />
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www.legis.ga.gov/members/house/5039?session=1033 Georgia legislature profile] * [https://www.ruwaforgeorgia.com/ Campaign website] * [https://ballotpedia.org/Ruwa_Romman Ballotpedia profile]
{{Georgia House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Romman, Ruwa}} Category:1993 births Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:21st-century members of the Georgia General Assembly Category:American Muslims Category:American politicians of Palestinian descent Category:Candidates in the 2026 United States elections Category:Deloitte people Category:Democratic Party members of the Georgia House of Representatives Category:Jordanian emigrants to the United States Category:Living people Category:McCourt School of Public Policy alumni Category:Oglethorpe University alumni Category:Women state legislators in Georgia (U.S. state)