A new political milestone may be on the horizon in the U.S. state of Georgia as Bangladeshi-American politician Nabila Islam Parkes has announced that she will run for the position of Lieutenant Governor. Parkes currently serves as a Georgia State Senator. Observers say that if elected, she would become the first Bangladeshi-American to run for and potentially hold such a high statewide elected office in Georgia.
Parkes announced in a social media post on Thursday, March 5. She said that after speaking with leaders across the state, she decided to enter the race for lieutenant governor.
In her post, Parkes said the cost of living in the United States continues to rise and argued that the economic policies of President Donald Trump have made the situation more difficult for many families.
She also criticized actions by immigration authorities, alleging that some officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have been conducting raids in communities while wearing masks, which she said has created fear among residents. At the same time, she warned that the United States is being drawn toward another “disastrous war.”
Born to a Bangladeshi immigrant family and raised in Georgia, Parkes also wrote that the Georgia Republican Party is not only supporting these policies but celebrating them. “Enough is enough,” she said, adding that it is time for Democrats to take back Georgia and that she wants to be part of that effort.
Her announcement signals the start of what could become a competitive race ahead of the upcoming elections in Georgia and has already generated strong interest within the Bangladeshi-American community.
