While alive civil rights icon and Rep. John Lewis got into a lot of good trouble for the betterment of the Black community. With his passing, State Sen. Nikema Williams—the first-ever Black woman to be elected Chair of the Georgia Democratic Party—will succeed the late activist on the November ballot to serve the Atlanta-area district in Congress, reports CNN.

“Nobody will ever fill the shoes of Congressman John Lewis,” Williams tweeted. “I will do everything in my power to honor his legacy and lift up his spirit. I’m honored to accept this nomination.”

Nobody will ever fill the shoes of Congressman John Lewis.

I will do everything in my power to honor his legacy and lift up his spirit.

I’m honored to accept this nomination. pic.twitter.com/ZOFJkSUN9v

— Nikema Williams (@NikemaWilliams) July 20, 2020

Raised in rural Alabama, Williams is a self-proclaimed “student of the John Lewis school of politics” who understands that the country needs “someone who is not afraid to put themselves on the line for their constituents in the same way that Congressman Lewis taught us to,” she said in a virtual meeting with the party’s executive committee held Monday (July 21).

The committee voted in Williams over several other candidates—state Rep. Park Cannon, Atlanta council member Andre Dickens, former Morehouse College President Robert Franklin and Georgia NAACP President James “Major” Woodall—and will most likely win the blue district.

While honored to continue to make history, Williams emphasized the mighty shoulders on which she stands.

“Nobody could possibly fill the shoes of Congressman Lewis,” Williams said. “His leadership and fighting spirit is needed now more than ever in this country. I believe it is imperative that we choose someone with a long track record of fearlessly standing up for what is right and someone who will take on the endless attacks on our rights that we’ve grown accustomed to seeing from the Republican Party.”

Nikema Williams

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