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 "excerpt": "Derek Mallow is an American Democratic politician from Savannah, Georgia, elected to the Georgia State Senate's 2nd district in 2022 after serving in the Georgia House.",
 "snippet": "Derek Mallow is an American Democratic politician from Savannah, Georgia, elected to the Georgia State Senate's 2nd district in 2022 after serving in the Georgia House.",
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 "markdown": "# Derek Mallow\n\nDerek Mallow is an American politician. A Democrat, he is a member of the Georgia State Senate, representing the state's 2nd district.<sup>[1](https://senatepress.net/category/senate-press/derek-mallow)</sup> He was elected to the Senate in 2022 and previously served in the [Georgia House of Representatives](https://www.edgepedia.org/georgia-house-of-representatives), representing District 163.<sup>[2](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/bios/mallow-derek-5007.pdf)</sup> In January 2025 he was sworn in for his second Senate term, and the Democratic Caucus appointed him Democratic Chief Deputy Whip.<sup>[1](https://senatepress.net/category/senate-press/derek-mallow)</sup>\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Party | Democratic<sup>[1](https://senatepress.net/category/senate-press/derek-mallow)</sup> |\n| Current office | Member of the Georgia State Senate, 2nd district<sup>[1](https://senatepress.net/category/senate-press/derek-mallow)</sup> |\n| Previous offices | Member, Georgia House of Representatives, District 163<sup>[2](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/bios/mallow-derek-5007.pdf)</sup> |\n| Education | Jenkins High School; bachelor's degree in leadership and ministry, Asbury University; Master of Public Administration, Savannah State University<sup>[2](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/bios/mallow-derek-5007.pdf)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://derekforgeorgia.com/about-derek-mallow/)</sup> |\n\n## Party affiliation\n\nMallow is a Democrat. His official biography identifies him as a Democrat, and he serves in the Georgia State Senate as a member of the Democratic Caucus.<sup>[2](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/bios/mallow-derek-5007.pdf)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[1](https://senatepress.net/category/senate-press/derek-mallow)</sup>\n\n## Early life and education\n\nMallow is a native of [Savannah, Georgia](https://www.edgepedia.org/savannah-georgia).<sup>[2](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/bios/mallow-derek-5007.pdf)</sup> On his campaign website, he writes that he \"didn't have a father growing up, but he had a village that aided him every step of the way.\"<sup>[3](https://derekforgeorgia.com/about-derek-mallow/)</sup> As a child he attended the United House of Prayer for all People, \"The Savannah Mother House,\" and he is a member of First Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church in downtown Savannah.<sup>[3](https://derekforgeorgia.com/about-derek-mallow/)</sup> He graduated from Savannah's Jenkins High School and earned a bachelor's degree in leadership and ministry from Asbury University as well as a master's in public administration from Savannah State University.<sup>[3](https://derekforgeorgia.com/about-derek-mallow/)</sup>\n\nBefore and outside of elected office, Mallow was Executive Director and CEO of East Savannah United, a nonprofit dedicated to community revitalization.<sup>[2](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/bios/mallow-derek-5007.pdf)</sup> He has served with the Boy Scouts of America, where he was a field director, and his campaign site says he has served with the organization for the past 13 years and \"has created many youth-focused programs throughout the district.\"<sup>[2](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/bios/mallow-derek-5007.pdf)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://derekforgeorgia.com/about-derek-mallow/)</sup> He is a member of [Alpha Phi Omega](https://www.edgepedia.org/alpha-phi-omega), a national service fraternity, the 100 Black Men of Savannah, and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., and has served on the boards of Senior Citizens Inc. and the Coastal Georgia Council.<sup>[3](https://derekforgeorgia.com/about-derek-mallow/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/bios/mallow-derek-5007.pdf)</sup>\n\n## Career\n\nMallow served in the Georgia House of Representatives, representing District 163.<sup>[2](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/bios/mallow-derek-5007.pdf)</sup> He was elected to the Georgia State Senate in 2022, representing Georgia's 2nd Senate district.<sup>[2](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/bios/mallow-derek-5007.pdf)</sup> On January 13, 2025, he was sworn in to serve the 2nd Senate District for his second term.<sup>[1](https://senatepress.net/category/senate-press/derek-mallow)</sup> The Democratic Caucus appointed him to serve as Democratic Chief Deputy Whip.<sup>[1](https://senatepress.net/category/senate-press/derek-mallow)</sup>\n\nIn the Senate, Mallow serves as a member of the Senate Committees on Children and Families, Economic Development and Tourism, and State and Local Governmental Operations, according to his official biography.<sup>[2](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/bios/mallow-derek-5007.pdf)</sup> For the 2025-2026 Regular Session, his committee assignments also include Transportation and Ethics, on which he serves as Secretary. He is a board member of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus.<sup>[2](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/bios/mallow-derek-5007.pdf)</sup>\n\n## Issues specific to Mallow\n\nIn August 2025, Mallow released a statement on the closure of the Savannah and Riceboro International Paper Mills.<sup>[1](https://senatepress.net/category/senate-press/derek-mallow)</sup> On November 25, 2025, he issued a statement on the dispute between the Chatham Area Transit Authority (CAT) and the Chatham County Board of Commissioners.<sup>[1](https://senatepress.net/category/senate-press/derek-mallow)</sup> On August 6, 2025, he and Sen. Ben Watson (R–Savannah) jointly released a statement regarding the shooting at Fort Stewart Military Base.<sup>[1](https://senatepress.net/category/senate-press/derek-mallow)</sup>\n\nIn July 2025, Mallow attended the closing ceremony of the Fifth Annual Pups Day Out Youth Football Camp, organized by [Super Bowl](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-bowl) champion Nolan Smith Jr., at which participants received football guidance and back-to-school backpacks and supplies, and Mallow presented Nolan Smith Jr. with an Outstanding Georgia Citizen Award.<sup>[1](https://senatepress.net/category/senate-press/derek-mallow)</sup>\n\n## Positions and legislative record\n\nOn his campaign website, Mallow writes, \"As your voice in the Georgia General Assembly, I am committed to advocate and engage in meaningful, respectful discourse with my colleagues to help move our state forward.\"<sup>[4](https://derekforgeorgia.com/legislation/)</sup> His campaign site lists the bills and resolutions he has sponsored or co-sponsored.<sup>[4](https://derekforgeorgia.com/legislation/)</sup>\n\n### Criminal justice\n\nMallow sponsored HB 138 and HB 140, bills to amend Part 3 of Article 6 of Chapter 7 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to change of venue, so as to provide for a motion for a change of venue by the prosecuting attorney in certain cases and to provide procedures.<sup>[4](https://derekforgeorgia.com/legislation/)</sup>\n\n### Transportation and rail\n\nMallow sponsored HB 139, a bill to require certain signage by railroad companies, to prohibit the operation of a train in a manner that occupies or blocks a street, road, or highway grade crossing longer than a certain amount of time, to provide for annual reporting, and to provide a fine for noncompliance.<sup>[4](https://derekforgeorgia.com/legislation/)</sup> He sponsored HR 161, a resolution creating the House Study Committee on a Nancy Hanks Passenger Rail Line from Savannah to Atlanta.<sup>[4](https://derekforgeorgia.com/legislation/)</sup>\n\n### Education\n\nMallow sponsored HR 96, a resolution urging the Georgia Department of Education to create a textbook and curriculum for African American studies.<sup>[4](https://derekforgeorgia.com/legislation/)</sup>\n\n### Commemorative license plates\n\nMallow sponsored HB 203, a bill to establish a specialty license plate to benefit the Tybee Island Historical Society, and HB 585, a bill to establish a specialty license plate honoring Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.<sup>[4](https://derekforgeorgia.com/legislation/)</sup>\n\n### Other resolutions\n\nMallow sponsored HR 24, HR 25, and HR 26, resolutions compensating Dominic Brian Lucci, Mark Jason Jones, and Kenneth Eric Gardiner, respectively.<sup>[4](https://derekforgeorgia.com/legislation/)</sup>\n\n## References\n\n1. [Derek Mallow – Georgia Senate Press Office](https://senatepress.net/category/senate-press/derek-mallow)\n2. [Senator Derek Mallow – Official Biography](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/bios/mallow-derek-5007.pdf)\n3. [About Derek Mallow – Derek for Georgia](https://derekforgeorgia.com/about-derek-mallow/)\n4. [Legislation – Derek for Georgia](https://derekforgeorgia.com/legislation/)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Politics and government › Government and public administration › Politicians and government officeholders (biographies) › US governors and state officials › State legislators › Southern state legislators › Surnames L to Mo*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 28, 2026; Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Sep 28, 2026; Sep 29, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n",
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 "credit": "\"Derek Mallow\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/derek-mallow. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.",
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 "speakable": "Derek Mallow is an American Democratic politician from Savannah, Georgia, elected to the Georgia State Senate's 2nd district in 2022 after serving in the Georgia House."
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