Two freshmen Georgia senators are Howard alumni
By Kelvin Childs
The state of Georgia has a double dose of Howard power with two graduates who are freshmen senators but have extensive careers in public service.
Senator Jaha Howard (’03, B.S., cum laude; ’07, DDS) is state senator for District 35 in metro Atlanta, which includes parts of Fulton and Cobb counties. Senator Randal Alonzo Mangham (’77, B.A.; ’80, J.D., cum laude), is state senator for District 55 in eastern metro Atlanta, which includes parts of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties. Both are Democrats.
Mangham was sworn in January 13, 2025, and was appointed to several key committees. He will be eligible for re-election in 2027. He previously was a member in the Georgia House of Representatives in District 94 from 2001 to 2019.
Howard was sworn in December 31, 2025, after winning a runoff election to fill a vacancy in the Senate. After finishing the former incumbent’s term, he will be eligible to run for the seat in his own right in 2027. Previously, Howard was a member of the Cobb County Board of Education for four years.
Both men have lengthy professional careers outside of politics. Howard is a pediatric dentist who has run his own practice, A+ Pediatric Dentistry of Atlanta, for 14 years, which informs his legislative goal of supporting small business. Mangham is managing partner of his own law practice, with more than 40 years of experience as an attorney. He is also a former judge and has served on multiple community boards and organizations. Besides his law degree from Howard, he has earned an MDiv from Emory University and is an ordained minister.
“As a proud Howard University graduate, I know firsthand that HBCUs are more than educational institutions; they are pillars of excellence, leadership and resilience in our communities,” Mangham said in March when he hosted several representatives of the Divine Nine fraternities and sororities to plan a Divine Nine and HBCU Day at the state Capital. He continued, “The Divine Nine and HBCUs are vital in supporting Black students and fostering our state’s future leaders.”
Howard is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He serves on the Howard University College of Dentistry Board of Visitors and prioritizes giving back time and treasure. “It matters tremendously because I know that I’ve benefited from others’ generosity and their time and their money,” he said. “And so, I want to stay in that posture of always being generous, because Howard will always attract the best and most motivated students who are going to change the world. So, they need support, just like I needed support.”
Dental health can affect the entire body, and the training the College of Dentistry provides makes for more dentists and healthier communities. Donate here: College of Dentistry
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