Put more money in people’s pockets.

Georgia’s minimum wage hasn’t changed since 1997. In fact, in the Georgia code, the minimum wage is $5.15 an hour. No one can afford to live off that little anywhere in Georgia. Additionally, Republicans passed bills banning cities and counties from raising their local minimum wage to meet skyrocketing costs.

As State Senator, Ruwa will fight to raise the minimum wage to at least $15 an hour and repeal state laws that ban cities and counties from setting their own minimum wage. This will give cities and counties the tools needed to meet specific local needs around the skyrocketing cost of living.

Lower housing costs for all.

Homes should belong to Georgians, not corporate landlords. Instead, communities around Georgia have some of the highest rates of corporate home ownership in the country. This has made buying a home almost impossible for young families and significantly increases rent around the state. Instead of reversing the trend, Republicans passed a tax break for corporations owning homes, making the problem worse. Republicans also passed laws banning cities and counties from enacting policies that would fix these issues.

As a State Representative, Ruwa introduced legislation to end these tax breaks. As State Senator, Ruwa would continue the work to end these tax breaks, increase tenant protections, and repeal state level laws that have tied the hands of local officials from helping their constituents.

Expand healthcare access across the state.

Communities around Georgia are literally dying. 94 out of 159 counties report more deaths than births. Georgia ranks almost last on healthcare, even though Georgians pay the most in healthcare costs. And, since 2013, 18 hospitals have closed in Georgia. These policy failures risk lives, resulting in one of the worst maternal mortality rates in the country, even though almost 90% of those deaths are preventable. The facts matter, and one of the main reasons for these deadly consequences is Republicans’ refusal to expand Medicaid, and their defunding of healthcare.

As State Senator, Ruwa will continue the fight to expand Medicaid, and fight to use 10% of the surplus to invest in a first-of-its-kind in the Southeast cancer research hub. Other states who have done similar investments saw a $3 to $10 return on investment for every $1 spent. This would bring jobs for builders and CDC experts targeted by the Trump administration, and generate revenue to reopen hospitals and clinics around the state.

Uphold the Rule of Law

ICE has terrorized our communities and rounded up people regardless of immigration status. They are now also buying up warehouses against the will of local officials and residents.

Although ICE is a federal agency, state level officials can advocate and pass laws to protect constituents. As State Representative, Ruwa cosponsored and authored legislation to ban ICE from sensitive areas like schools, hospitals, and houses of worship. She also introduced legislation to tax sales to DHS like the warehouse sales at a rate that would disincentivize those sales. As State Senator, Ruwa would continue that work for even more constituents while pushing federal counterparts to pass legislation to hold ICE accountable.

Expand healthcare access across the state.

Communities around Georgia are literally dying. 94 out of 159 counties report more deaths than births. Georgia ranks almost last on healthcare, even though Georgians pay the most in healthcare costs. And, since 2013, 18 hospitals have closed in Georgia. These policy failures risk lives, resulting in one of the worst maternal mortality rates in the country, even though almost 90% of those deaths are preventable. The facts matter, and one of the main reasons for these deadly consequences is Republicans’ refusal to expand Medicaid, and their defunding of healthcare.

As State Senator, Ruwa will continue the fight to expand Medicaid, and fight to use 10% of the surplus to invest in a first-of-its-kind in the Southeast cancer research hub. Other states who have done similar investments saw a $3 to $10 return on investment for every $1 spent. This would bring jobs for builders and CDC experts targeted by the Trump administration, and generate revenue to reopen hospitals and clinics around the state.

Improve education outcomes.

In the 2023 budget, Democrats negotiated funding for free breakfast and lunch for kids. The Governor line item vetoed the bill citing fiscal conservatism. But that’s not fiscal conservatism. That’s cruelty, especially when it costs 1/2 of one tax break for millionaires to give every kid in this state free breakfast and lunch. In 2024 and 2025, Democrats successfully negotiated funding in the budget for free breakfast and lunch, but until legislation passes, the program remains at risk of a line item veto.

As State Senator, Ruwa will support funding to feed hungry kids by introducing legislation on her day one legislative agenda to enshrine the program into law.

Improve education outcomes.

In the 2023 budget, Democrats negotiated funding for free breakfast and lunch for kids. The Governor line item vetoed the bill citing fiscal conservatism. But that’s not fiscal conservatism. That’s cruelty, especially when it costs 1/2 of one tax break for millionaires to give every kid in this state free breakfast and lunch. In 2024 and 2025, Democrats successfully negotiated funding in the budget for free breakfast and lunch, but until legislation passes, the program remains at risk of a line item veto.

As State Senator, Ruwa will support funding to feed hungry kids by introducing legislation on her day one legislative agenda to enshrine the program into law.