‘Not My First Rodeo’: 21-Year-Old Muhammad Akbar Ali Becomes Georgia’s Youngest Serving State Legislator

Muhammad Akbar Ali, 21, a recent college graduate, won a state House runoff in the Atlanta suburbs earlier this month, becoming the youngest state legislator currently serving in Georgia and possibly the youngest in state history. His victory underscored a campaign built on grassroots outreach, early activism and hands-on legislative experience.

“This isn’t my first rodeo,” Ali said, describing how he plans to work in a Republican-dominated legislature. “I’ve been around the other side of the aisle and seen how bills are done. It’s all relationship-based. A lot of the Democratic delegation supports me, but some Republicans are also familiar with me. They may not support me, but they know who I am and that they can work with me.”

Early Activism and Political Roots

Ali’s political engagement began in elementary school when local officials raised zoning objections to a new mosque in Lilburn, Georgia. That controversy, which unfolded as suburban Gwinnett County experienced rapid demographic change, prompted him to ask his parents what he could do — a question that led to organizing pro-choice marches before he was eligible to vote, helping to recharter the Young Democrats of Gwinnett County and joining the Gwinnett County Democratic Party.

District and Outreach

Ali’s district centers on Snellville, a fast-growing Atlanta exurb. Today roughly 70% of the district’s residents are non-white, with Black, Latino and Asian communities each forming significant shares of the population. Ali highlighted the neighborhood mix along Lawrenceville Highway: a Korean Christian church, a Vietnamese restaurant beside a Halal eatery and a taqueria next door — an example of the district’s cultural and economic diversity.

He launched his campaign by visiting small immigrant-owned businesses, often accompanied by translators in Spanish and Korean to ensure his message was accessible. That hands-on, community-first approach helped him build trust across constituencies.

Platform and Legislative Experience

Although comfortable with policy details — including nuanced views on state education funding — Ali campaigned on concrete affordability issues that resonate with many voters: Medicaid expansion, curbing investor-owned rental speculation, property tax relief, school safety improvements and lowering insurance costs for small businesses.

“Affordability isn’t just a buzzword; it was actual policy for me,” he said. “Prices are too high, and it’s unachievable to buy a house or start on the path of home ownership. There are basic foundational needs not being taken care of.”

Before his run, Ali worked as a legislative aide to state Senator Kim Jackson, a progressive voice in the Democratic delegation, and served on local policy bodies including the Gwinnett County Transit Advisory Board — experience he says taught him the importance of relationships in advancing legislation.

Campaign Challenges and Coalition

During the campaign, Islamophobic attacks were largely limited to online channels. “I think the rampant Islamophobia is just a resurgence of an ugly identity that shouldn’t exist because, regardless of who we are, we are all Americans,” Ali said. “As a born citizen of the United States, I have just as much right to serve my community as anyone else.”

His runoff coalition was broad and somewhat unusual: support ranged from the Atlanta chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America to former Governor Roy Barnes, a notable moderate — reflecting both his progressive priorities and his ability to connect with established figures.

Ali warned that partisan bickering has contributed to declining youth participation in politics. “I may be the youngest now, but I won’t stay that way forever. I’m the first of many,” he said, positioning himself as a bridge between younger voters and the legislative process.