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IN THEIR WORDS

Here is what some of the first- and second-generation Americans running for Georgia state legislative seats are saying about their campaigns:

“The Republican Party corresponds and connects with my cultural values of pro-life, small government, opportunity for small businesses and entrepreneurship and so on.” — Patrick Batubenge, a Republican and a naturalized U.S. citizen who immigrated from the Democratic Republic of Congo through America’s diversity visa lottery program.

“I’m running on the Republican ticket, but, of course, my goal is to serve my community, give back to the community and bring everybody under one roof.”

— Dr. Indran Krishnan, a Republican who was born in Sri Lanka.

“I’m campaigning on health care, education and transportation for my district.” — Donna McLeod, a chemical engineer and small business owner who was born in Jamaica, is running as a Democrat.

“I have a unique opportunity to be able to make policy decisions based off of things that I have lived firsthand.”

— Maria Palacios, a Democrat and a former “Dreamer” who became a naturalized U.S. citizen after her parents brought her here from Mexico.

“Teachers create our future. ... I want to eliminate the Georgia income tax for educators.”

— Louis Tseng, a Republican who immigrated from Taiwan.

“It boils down to how much you can actually do as an outsider and how much you can do with the kind of representation that you have right now. I think a big part of me was frustrated with how slow things are moving and how political the environment was for issues around my community and issues that I cared about.”

— Aisha Yaqoob, a Democrat and the daughter of Pakistani immigrants.