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A proud Memphian and passionate advocate for justice and equality, Senator Raumesh Akbari serves in the Tennessee State Senate representing District 29, which includes downtown Memphis and parts of Shelby County. She was elected to the State Senate in 2018 after serving three terms in the State House of Representatives.

Senator Akbari serves as 2nd Vice-Chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee and is a member of the Commerce and Labor Committee and the Ethics Committee.

Currently the chairwoman of the Senate Democratic Caucus, Senator Akbari’s policy focus aims to improve student outcomes, reform outdated criminal justice rules, and to expand middle class security and opportunities to more Tennessee families. She stands up for the people who live in her district, as well as Tennesseans, from all walks of life.

Her legislative work has garnered national and regional acclaim. Senator Akbari is the recipient of honors and awards from the Council of State Governments; Leadership Memphis; Leadership Tennessee; the National Council of State Legislatures; the State Legislative Leaders Foundation; National Black Caucus of State Legislators; the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women; the National Juvenile Justice Network; the German Marshall Fund; and the NewDEAL Leaders. In 2021, Senator Akbari was appointed by President Biden as a member to the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships.

The Democratic National Committee has twice bestowed a most special honor on Akbari. In 2016, she was invited by to address the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Penn. as a state representative. Four years later, Sen. Akbari was again invited to address the Democratic National Convention, this time as a keynote speaker among the party’s “rising stars.”

Formerly, Senator Akbari served as chairwoman of the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators and national treasurer of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators. She currently serves as a state director within Women in Government; national financial secretary of the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women; and national financial secretary of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators. Senator Akbari is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and the Links Incorporated.

A graduate of Washington University and the Saint Louis University School of Law, Senator Akbari strives to represent the city of Memphis and her people with dignity and purpose.