South African expat Kevin Abel elected to Georgia State Senate

Kevin Abel, a native of Cape Town, South Africa, has been elected to the Georgia State Senate. Born and raised in Camps Bay, Abel left South Africa at the age of 14 and moved to the United States in 1979. His experiences growing up in South Africa have shaped his views on race, civil rights, and immigration. Abel won the election after a closely contested Democratic primary runoff, defeating his opponent by a small fraction.

Abel's election to the Senate marks a significant milestone in his 35 years of civic involvement in Atlanta and Georgia. He has worked closely with refugee communities for many years and has been involved with the American Jewish Committee, chairing its antisemitism task force. Abel's top priorities in the Senate include expanding Medicaid, overturning Georgia's abortion ban, and increasing funding for public transport, school funding, and housing.

Abel's family background and experiences have had a lasting impact on his politics. His family was liberal by South African standards, and he grew up with discussions about the injustices of apartheid. Abel's parents were divorced, and with five sons of military age between them, the prospect of conscription contributed to the family's desire to leave South Africa. The US represented freedom and opportunity to the young Abel, who remembers being excited about the move.

As an immigrant, Abel often begins campaign speeches by identifying himself as an immigrant and reflecting on the opportunities he believes the US gave him. He is concerned about the Trump administration's treatment of immigrants, particularly those who do not have the advantages he had when he arrived with a green card. Abel has also worked to address antisemitism in Georgia, acknowledging that it remains a concern in the state.

Abel's election increases Jewish representation in Georgia's legislature. He will join Esther Panitch, the only Jewish member of the Georgia General Assembly, and newly elected representative Adam Cleveland, bringing the number of Jewish legislators to three. Abel intends to push for greater funding to protect Jewish institutions and plans to retire from his existing career to focus on public service.

Abel's experience as an immigrant and his commitment to social justice have driven his desire to enter public service. He plans to draw on his experience serving on the board of the Georgia Department of Transportation to encourage greater investment in public transport across metropolitan Atlanta. Abel is excited to learn the legislative process, meet new people, and take on a new challenge at the age of 61.

As Abel prepares to take office in January, he is focused on his priorities and the opportunities that lie ahead. His election to the Senate is an opportunity to contribute more directly to the community in which he's spent most of his adult life. Abel's commitment to social justice and his experiences as an immigrant will likely shape his work in the Senate.

Key points

• Kevin Abel's election to the Georgia State Senate marks a significant milestone in his 35 years of civic involvement in Atlanta and Georgia.
• Abel's experiences growing up in South Africa have shaped his views on race, civil rights, and immigration.
• His top priorities in the Senate include expanding Medicaid, overturning Georgia's abortion ban, and increasing funding for public transport, school funding, and housing.