GALEO Impact Fund is proud to endorse progressive Latina/o candidates who aspire to lead their communities from the frontlines of public office. Our mission is clear: to endorse, uplift, and support candidates who share our values and vision for a just, inclusive, and forward-thinking society.
For more information regarding our candidate endorsement program, please contact Kyle Gomez-Leineweber at kgomez@galeoimpactfund.org.
2024 Endorsements
presidential endorsement
The GALEO Impact Fund Board of Directors unanimously and enthusiastically endorsed the Harris-Walz campaign, because Latinos in Georgia hold the keys to the White House in 2024.
STATE legislative endorsements
Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes (D)
Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes Senate District 7
Nabilah Islam Parkes, the youngest and first Muslim and South Asian woman elected to the Georgia State Senate, hails from Gwinnett County. Raised by working-class immigrant parents, she has channeled her experiences into advocacy for lower drug costs, affordable healthcare, and expanded public health services.
A Gwinnett County Public Schools and Georgia State University graduate, Nabilah serves on several key committees and as Vice Chair of the Gwinnett County Senate delegation. She lives in Duluth with her husband Bryan and their two daughters and will soon make history as the first woman in the Georgia Senate to give birth while serving.
Candidate: Jason esteves (D)
Jason Esteves
Senate District 35
Jason Esteves, Georgia State Senator for District 6, focuses on issues impacting families, including public education, healthcare, housing, and economic opportunity. Sworn in on January 9, 2023, he serves on several Senate Committees and is Vice Chair of Finance.
As a former at-large representative and Board Chair of the Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education, he promoted equity and improved the school system’s financial outlook. Under his leadership, APS achieved its highest graduation rate (83.1%) and addressed pandemic challenges by providing meals, laptops, and internet access to students.
Jason also championed equity policies and LGBTQ+ support.
Candidate: Rashaun Kemp (D)
Rashaun Kemp
Senate District 38
Rashaun is the senior director of a national non-profit organization that focuses on amplifying the voices of Black and Brown public charter school leaders. He has led a state education department, served as a Government Affairs professional, and worked as a high school teacher and principal.
Rashaun actively contributes to his community, serving on various boards and volunteering in food distribution and community cleanups.
He’s a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. Rashaun resides in Atlanta with his spouse, Ken Kemp, and their children. In his free time, he stays informed about politics, travels, watches football, and plays tennis.
Candidate: Ashwin Ramaswami (D)
Ashwin Ramaswami (D)
Senate District 48
Ashwin Ramaswami, the Democratic nominee for Georgia State Senate in District 48, is a Johns Creek native and the son of immigrants with a strong commitment to public service. With experience at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), where he secured the 2020 and 2022 elections, Ashwin is poised to be a groundbreaking leader.
He aims to become the first Indian American and the youngest Gen Z State Senator in Georgia, distinguished as the only legislator with both computer science and law degrees. Ashwin is running to enhance our community by fully funding public schools, investing in technology and entrepreneurship, and making housing and healthcare more affordable.
HOUSE legislative endorsements
Candidate: Dr. Karl Gallegos (D)
Dr. Karl Gallegos (D)
House District 34
Karl, a Virginia native and Cobb resident for nearly 40 years, has a rich background in medicine and public health. He has also been married to Chris for 35 years and is a father and grandfather.
With degrees from MIT, Harvard Medical School, and UNC, Karl has a history of treating addiction and improving mental health treatment. For 25 years, he’s been a global pharmaceutical safety consultant focusing on cancer therapies.
Karl’s commitment to evidence-based decision-making will guide his work as your representative. He will prioritize the needs of all Georgians above personal or party interests.
Candidate: GABRIEL SANCHEZ (D)
Gabriel Sanchez
House District 42
Gabriel Sanchez, a progressive candidate for Georgia State House District 42, grew up in Cobb County as the son of Colombian immigrants. Inspired by Bernie Sanders in 2016, he became active in politics, advocating for universal healthcare, education, and environmental policies.
A Georgia State University graduate, Gabriel worked as a legislative aide and organized efforts to flip Georgia Blue in 2020. He has supported voting rights, Latino community issues, and workers’ rights through organizations like Pro Georgia, Poder Latinx, and the Democratic Socialists of America. Gabriel is dedicated to amplifying marginalized voices and driving progressive change.
Candidate: micheal garza (D)
Micheal Garza
House District 46
Micheal Garza owns a web development firm and is a local and state government leader. He co-founded the Cobb Community Care Coalition and has been active in local and state government, as a prominent leader in Moms Demand Action, the largest grassroots gun violence prevention organization in the countryIn. In 2022, he ran for office, achieving a historic Democratic vote share in Georgia.
He supports candidates with similar backgrounds and was Everytown for Gun Safety’s first candidate recruiter in Georgia. Micheal, a devoted father and PTA co-president, advocates for equitable education, community safety, and reproductive rights.
Candidate: Laura Murvatian (D)
Laura Murvatian
House District 48
Ms. Murvartian, a business executive, small business owner, and nonprofit leader, is a proud immigrant running for State Representative of Georgia’s House District 48.
Hailing from an immigrant family, she witnessed firsthand the value of hard work through her parents’ example, working various jobs during her schooling years.
With a master’s degree from the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan, she founded Arte GA. She held senior positions at Equifax and Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Recognized by the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, she’s actively engaged in the Atlanta community and serves on boards focusing on the Latino community and the arts.
Married for 26 years with two college-aged children, she resides in Johns Creek, GA.
Candidate: susie greenberg(D)
Susie Greenberg
House District 53
Candidate: REP. PHIL OLALEYE (D)
Phil Olaleye
House District 59
Elected in 2022, Phil represents Georgia House District 59, covering parts of Atlanta and East Point. As Executive Director of Next Generation Men & Women, he supports Atlanta youth by offering college and career guidance. Phil previously served as Director of Performance Management at WorkSource Atlanta and as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines. He’s a former President of the Organized Neighbors of Summerhill and has been honored by Georgia Trend and the Atlanta Business Chronicle.
With a Master’s from Harvard Kennedy School of Government and roots in Stone Mountain, Phil, the son of Nigerian and Colombian immigrants, resides in Summerhill with his wife, Sabrina Gómez, and their two sons.
Candidate: Saira Draper (D)
Saira Draper
House District 90
Rep. Saira Draper, an attorney and voting rights expert, represents Georgia House District 90 in Atlanta/DeKalb. As a state legislator, she’s a leading voice in democracy and electoral policy. In 2020, she spearheaded voter protection efforts for the Biden/Harris campaign and Senators Warnock and Ossoff.
She co-founded Power the Vote, a non-profit supporting democracy protection work. Beyond voting rights, Rep. Draper focuses on economic opportunity, maternal health, gun safety, racial justice, and education.
She’s a first-generation immigrant, a Georgia Tech and Georgetown Law graduate, and a mother of three.
Candidate :Rep. Ruwa Romman (D)
Rep. Ruwa Romman
House District 97
Representative Ruwa Romman, a former Deloitte Consulting advisor, has extensive experience in policy at local, state, and federal levels. In 2020, she energized Georgian voters and co-founded the Georgia Volunteer Hub to connect volunteers with local organizations.
In her first term, she has cosponsored the Reproductive Freedom Act, proposed legislation to address hedge fund home purchases, and pushed for EMS to be an essential service. She serves on the Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications, Information and Audits, and Interstate Cooperation committees.
Ruwa Romman made history as the first Muslim woman and the first elected Palestinian in the Georgia State House.
Candidate: Michelle Kang (D)
Michelle Kang
House District 99
Candidate: Rep. Farooq Mughal (D)
Rep. Farooq Mughal
House District 105
Farooq, a Gwinnett County native and son of Pakistani immigrants, embodies the values of hard work and community service taught by his family. After graduating from Mercer University in 2000 with a degree in Sociology, he has built a successful career as a government affairs advisor and political strategist.
In 2008, Farooq founded MS Global Partners, a leading bipartisan public policy firm offering strategic advice to government entities and minority-owned businesses. His clients span various sectors, including healthcare, transportation, and international trade.
Elected in 2022, Farooq has already made significant contributions, including passing 10 bills, supporting minority and veteran-owned businesses, reducing property taxes, and advocating for mental healthcare and criminal justice reform.
Candidate: Rep. Jasmine Clark (D)
Rep. Jasmine Clark
House District 108
Dr. Jasmine Clark, a Georgia native and mother of two, holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Tennessee and a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from Emory University. She completed a postdoctoral project in HIV research at Emory in 2014 and is now an Assistant Teaching Professor in Biology at Emory.
Elected to the Georgia State House of Representatives in 2018 for District 108, Jasmine has made a mark with her focus on science and policy. She serves on the Higher Education, Banks and Banking, Interstate Cooperation, and Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight committees. Additionally, she is the Policy Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, the Whip of the Legislative Black Caucus, and Co-Chair of the Georgia Future Caucus.
Candidate: mary ann santos (D)
Mary Ann Santos
House District 117
A McDonough resident for 23 years, she hails from hardworking immigrant parents who run a local business. A Henry County High School alumna, she navigated full-time work and night classes as a single parent, earning a bachelor’s in Criminal Justice Leadership from Mercer University and a master’s in Public Administration from Clayton State University.
As a proud Latina and woman of color, she champions marginalized communities through mentorship programs and non-profit work across metro Atlanta. A survivor of domestic violence, she brings empathy and strength to her 18 years of public service.
Outside work, she finds joy in motherhood, expressing her creativity as an artist, and attending T.O.P. Church.
Candidate: Jerry Ramos-Arce (D)
Jerry Ramos-Arce
Hall County Sheriff
A third-generation Puerto Rican, Jerry Ramos is a candidate for Hall County Sheriff. Having
served eight years in the military and more than twenty years in law enforcement culminating in his
career as Chief of Police.
Using his background in law enforcement and security, his approach places a strong emphasis
on community service and protection. He wants to build stronger ties within the community and
promote an inclusive work environment. Jerry's vast education includes classes from prestigious
universities and law enforcement centers, which improves his skills.
Priorities for him if elected include ending the 287(g) I.C.E. agreement and ensuring that the
newly mandated HB1105 is applied as intended and the preservation of the 5th and 14thamendment due process clause by requiring all ICE detainers to be signed by a judge to
mitigate arbitrary detention by field agents!
He also plans to put into action a proactive and strict S.T.E.P. plan to address human trafficking,
community violence, property crimes, opioid impact, gun violence, and marginalization. As well
as maintaining a skilled workforce that represents the community we serve.
district attorney endorsements
Candidate: Deborah Gonzalez (D)
Deborah Gonzalez
Western Judicial Circuit
Deborah Gonzalez (D) is an experienced attorney, incumbent Athens DA, and former Georgia state legislator. She’s passionate about transforming the criminal justice system, advocating for victims of sexual harassment and domestic violence, and protecting children and working families.
As the most progressive candidate in this race, she’s committed to addressing racial disparities in our legal system. Her platform includes eliminating cash bail for low-level offenses, reducing prosecutorial overcharging, declining to prosecute low-level marijuana possession, ending death penalty prosecutions, and maintaining a unit to review unjust sentencing and wrongful convictions.
Additionally, she won’t prosecute women under the state’s vague anti-abortion bill and aims to increase transparency through a public data portal
