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Keisha Lance Bottoms

Democratic candidate for Governor, Georgia · Open seat

Former Mayor of Atlanta; former White House senior adviser

Keisha Lance Bottoms is a Democrat who served one term as mayor of Atlanta and later worked in the Biden administration. She launched her campaign for governor in summer 2025 and won the Democratic nomination outright in the May 2026 primary. She faces Republican Rick Jackson in the November 3, 2026 general election for the open seat held by term-limited Gov. Brian Kemp.

Where Bottoms stands

Taxes: Proposes exempting teachers from state income taxes. She says this would help keep teachers in their jobs and let them afford homes in their communities.
Affordability and cost of living: Says she would lower costs for Georgians through tax cuts for teachers, investments in housing, and free community college.
Housing: Proposes state investments in housing aimed at lower-income and first-time homebuyers.
Education and workforce: Proposes free community college for people training for jobs such as coders, plumbers, mechanics and utility workers.

Background

Mayor of Atlanta (one term, 2018–2022)
Served in the Biden administration (White House senior adviser)
Won the 2026 Democratic primary for Georgia governor outright (May 2026)
Endorsed by former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama

In the news

New poll shows Bottoms, Jackson in dead heat for Georgia governor Rough Draft Atlanta, October 20, 2026
Georgia governor: Keisha Lance Bottoms, Rick Jackson Georgia Recorder (via The Current), October 16, 2026
Georgia governor candidates spar over the economy and Trump in lone debate NBC News, October 6, 2026

Also running for Governor

Rick Jackson Republican

Sources

Last researched October 22, 2026. Written in neutral language from the sources above. Spot an error? See how to report it.