(February 29, 2024) At the age of 24, Ashwin Ramaswami has already amassed an impressive array of accomplishments. As a leader who represents America’s diversity well, Ashwin is the first Indian American in Georgia’s State Senate, the first Gen Z member, and the only State Senator with degrees in both computer science and law.
A graduate of Georgia Tech, Stanford University, and Georgetown University Law Center, the youngster’s career interests span software engineering, election security, and research in technology law and policy, apart from politics.
Ashwin Ramaswami
The young leader announced his campaign for GA State Senate District 48. Senate District 48 consists of parts of North Fulton County, South Forsyth County, North Gwinnett County and parts of Johns Creek, Suwanee, Alpharetta, Cumming, Sugar Hill and Buford.
“I have over seven years of experience working to build tech startups; have worked in the federal government on cybersecurity for three years, and currently run a consulting company around software architecture, technology law and policy,” he shared. While announcing his campaign two months back, he mentioned, “I am fighting to lower costs for all families, increase economic and business opportunity, expand healthcare access, and preserve, protect, and defend democratic institutions for everyday Georgians.”
Infusing Gen Z enthusiasm for transformation
With great interest in volunteerism, Ashwin Ramaswami has worked to make positive change by working in nonprofits, religious communities, technology startups, and law and policy in the past. Thanking people of his hometown Georgia who helped in his gaining of experiences in diverse fields, the political aspirant remarked, “It’s time for me to pay it forward and help advocate for the futures of young people — and everyone — in our community.”
We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make transformative investments in our communities. Did you know that the State of Georgia now has $10.7 billion in surplus cash? We should invest it wisely in our future.
Ashwin Ramaswami
The Gen Z contestant is articulate on social media and even interacts with the followers “I am running in the Democratic Party, against an incumbent who got indicted for trying to overturn the 2020 election results,” he remarked, replying to one of the queries on social media. “It is important to have people with integrity in the public office and who serve the community first,” he added.
Interspersing technology with purpose
In 2017, Ashwin tried his hand at entrepreneurship and entered the tech startup sector focussing on healthcare regulation. Since then, he has offered consultancy and engineering support to various technology startups, and people engaged in technology entrepreneurship and investment activities.
Ashwin Ramaswami
He has also worked in the firm, Schmidt Futures. During his time there, Ashwin spearheaded the creation of $6 million worth of philanthropic initiatives aimed at bolstering and raising awareness for open-source software communities, which serve as vital resources for small businesses. His research efforts had played a role in inspiring a bill in Congress: H.R.3286, securing Open Source Software Act.
Additionally, Ashwin had been involved in advocacy within the free culture and open access movement, contributing his expertise to organisations such as the Wikimedia Foundation and the Linux Foundation.
Ensuring cybersecurity in elections
In 2020, while working at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Ashwin had established a cybersecurity programme for state and local election officials, supporting election security efforts for both the 2020 and 2022 elections. As part of his job, he collaborated with various states across the country, including the office of the GA Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, to identify and address election security issues.
In 2023, he served as a fellow in the Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, contributing to efforts aimed at safeguarding Georgians’ online and social media experiences.
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Connected to his roots
Ashwin was born and raised in Johns Creek, Georgia. “I’m a second-generation immigrant, an Indian American, a twin brother, and an engineer,” he writes on his website.
I would be the first Hindu and Indian lawmaker in the state of Georgia and am committed to leading with inclusion and truth.
Ashwin Ramaswami
In his dedication towards the South Asian community, Ashwin had initiated teaching sessions at Chinmaya Mission, educating middle and high school students on Hindu philosophy and culture, which encompassed teachings from the Bhagavad Gita. Additionally, during his student days at Georgetown, he established the Dharmic Law Student Organisation to cater to Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, and Jain students, and played a key role in raising $100,000 to establish an endowment fund.
Ashwin Ramaswamy at at the Hindu Temple of Atlanta on New Year’s Day
Deeply attached with Georgia’s concerns
While being connected to his roots, Ashwin is immensely attached to the place where he was born and raised, “I am from Johns Creek, GA and the only candidate who grew up in this district,” he adds. “Everyone should make sure they have access to a quality education. We want to make sure people have access to jobs and the economy, entrepreneurship and also access to healthcare, reproductive rights and all these issues that matter to us. That’s why I’ve been running,” the young leader has shared in his election campaigns.
Ashwin Ramaswami during is campaign -at Seven Oaks Clubhouse
