Bottoms Takes Georgia Governor's Seat With 54.4 Percent Vote
The former Atlanta mayor defeated Rick Jackson to become the first Black woman elected governor in the United States.
By Nikolai Patterson ·
Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated healthcare businessman Rick Jackson on Election Day, securing 54.4 percent of the vote to 45.6 percent. The Associated Press called the race at 9:24 p.m. EST after more than 70 percent of the vote had been reported. Bottoms becomes the first Black woman to hold the office of governor in American history and the first Democrat to win the state since 1998.
The campaign focused heavily on economic affordability. Bottoms traveled to communities in Columbus, Macon, Augusta, Albany, Valdosta, Waycross, and Rome, Georgia, rather than concentrating stops in the metro area. She told voters she prioritized listening over speaking. 'I get to talk, but most importantly, I get to listen,' Bottoms said. She noted that she could 'put faces with the fight, the people I am fighting for.'
Key policy proposals centered on reducing costs for working families. Bottoms plans to allow local governments to suspend or end grocery taxes if they can afford the measure. She also proposed eliminating state taxes on diapers, feminine hygiene products, and baby formula. These items were top concerns for voters who cited groceries, healthcare, and housing as their primary financial pressures.
The governor's office controls the initial drafting of the state budget, which then goes to the legislature for approval. Bottoms stated that mental health services, healthcare access, workforce housing, and education funding all begin in that budget process. She intends to use this authority to direct state spending toward these sectors. Jackson's campaign focused on general economic messaging but did not match Bottoms' level of localized outreach.
The result reflects a shift in voting patterns in a state with a large Black electorate. In 2018, Bottoms noted that an average of only 21 votes per precinct separated the winner from the loser. Organizers used that narrow margin to drive voter education and engagement in the current cycle. Bottoms told younger voters to avoid a 'purity test' and to 'not be afraid to fail.'
Bottoms' team will now begin staffing the new administration. They will review the state budget and set legislative priorities for the incoming session. Community leaders in the cities Bottoms visited are watching for early action on grocery tax relief and small business support.
