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Astrid Ross

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Astrid Ross
Candidate, Georgia State Senate District 7
Elections and appointments
Next election
May 19, 2026
Contact

Astrid Ross (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Georgia State Senate to represent District 7. She declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on May 19, 2026.[source]

Ross completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Click here to read the survey answers.

Elections

2026

See also: Georgia State Senate elections, 2026

General election

The primary will occur on May 19, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for Georgia State Senate District 7

Rahul Garabadu (D), Jamin Harkness (D), Ruwa Romman (D), and Astrid Ross (D) are running in the Democratic primary for Georgia State Senate District 7 on May 19, 2026.


Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary

Republican primary for Georgia State Senate District 7

Aizaz Shaikh (R) is running in the Republican primary for Georgia State Senate District 7 on May 19, 2026.


Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Endorsements

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Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Astrid Ross completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Ross' responses.

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I am Astrid Ross — a mother, grandmother, educator, mental health advocate, and community leader who turned her personal pain into public purpose.

I was raised in Atlanta and shaped by my family’s Christian faith, and resilience. I have spent my life serving others. As an educator and school leader, I’ve worked to ensure that children—especially those from underserved and diverse communities—had access to opportunity, literacy, and dignity in the classroom. As a Georgia Certified Peer Specialist working at the only urgent psychiatric clinic in Georgia, founder of a growing mental health support network, I have helped families navigate trauma, stigma, and healing.

My advocacy is deeply personal. As a survivor of suicide loss, a Black Muslim woman, and a late-diagnosed autistic adult, I speak openly about the intersections of identity, grief, faith, and resilience. My voice has become a source of strength for people who have often felt unseen or unheard.

I’m also an author and storyteller, using my newest book, Crazy!, and public speaking to challenge how society labels and treats mental illness—especially among Black women and marginalized communities.

Now, that I am stepping into public leadership by running for Georgia State Senate District 7, I’m bringing the voices of educators, working families, faith communities, and mental health advocates into the halls of power. My campaign centers on ethical leadership, equitable education funding, expanded mental health access,
  • Mental health care should be accessible to everyone, not just those who can afford it. As a Georgia Certified Peer Specialist, educator, and mental health advocate, I have seen firsthand how families struggle to find timely, affordable support. Long waitlists, lack of insurance coverage, and stigma keep too many people suffering in silence. My first legislative priority is expanding mental health accessibility across Georgia by increasing community-based services, supporting crisis stabilization programs, and investing in peer support specialists who meet people where they are. Mental health care must be integrated into schools, workplaces, and local communities. When we invest in mental health and strengthen families in Gwinnett.
  • Strong public schools are the foundation of strong communities. As an educator and school leader, I know that when we invest in our public schools, we invest in our children, our workforce, and our future. Yet too many schools are underfunded, teachers are overworked, and students lack the resources they need to succeed. My second legislative priority is strengthening public education by advocating for equitable school funding, supporting teachers with competitive pay and resources, and ensuring every child—regardless of ZIP code—has access to safe, well-resourced learning environments. When we support our schools, we empower the next generation to thrive and keep Georgia competitive and prosperous.
  • Strong families need economic stability to thrive. Too many working people in Georgia are doing everything right—working hard, raising families, and contributing to their communities—yet still struggling to keep up with the rising cost of housing, healthcare, childcare, and basic necessities. My third legislative priority is strengthening economic stability for families by supporting policies that protect workers, expand access to affordable childcare, and ensure wages and opportunities keep pace with the real cost of living. When families have stability, they can focus on raising healthy children, building wealth, and contributing to vibrant communities. A strong economy must work for everyday people, not just the privileged few.
I am deeply passionate about advancing mental health policy because I have seen firsthand how deeply it impacts families, communities, and our overall well-being. As a Georgia Certified Peer Specialist, educator, and mental health advocate, I have worked closely with individuals navigating depression, trauma, suicide loss, and serious mental illness. Too many people struggle to access timely, affordable care, and stigma still prevents many from seeking help.

I am committed to policies that expand community-based services, strengthen crisis response systems, support peer specialists, and integrate mental health care into schools and workplaces. Mental health must be treated as essential health care. When we prioritize mental wellness!
Dr Sophia Khan, owner of Urgent Psych

Tera Carter, former President NAMI Gwinnett, owner of Sacred Ground Wellness

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.


Campaign finance summary

Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from OpenSecrets. That information will be published here once it is available.

See also


External links

Footnotes


Current members of the Georgia State Senate
Leadership
Majority Leader:Jason Anavitarte
Minority Leader:Harold Jones
Senators
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
Vacant
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
Vacant
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 22
District 23
Max Burns (R)
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
District 37
District 38
District 39
District 40
District 41
District 42
District 43
District 44
District 45
District 46
District 47
District 48
District 49
District 50
District 51
District 52
District 53
Vacant
District 54
District 55
District 56
Republican Party (32)
Democratic Party (21)
Vacancies (3)