Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democrat and former mayor of Atlanta, is launching her campaign for governor of Georgia, highlighting her experience as a “battle-tested executive leader” during her single term in office. Bottoms, 55, officially entered the 2026 race on Tuesday, becoming the second prominent Democrat to do so after State Senator Jason Esteves of Atlanta, who announced his candidacy in April.
In a statement, Bottoms emphasized her desire to be a strong advocate for Georgia, especially in these uncertain times. She is focused on issues such as expanding Medicaid, supporting small businesses, and ensuring that Georgians have access to vocational training, career development, and higher education opportunities.
Bottoms joins a growing field of candidates hoping to succeed Republican Governor Brian Kemp, who is unable to run for a third term. On the Republican side, Attorney General Chris Carr launched his campaign in December, and Lt. Governor Burt Jones is expected to announce his candidacy soon. Other potential Democratic candidates include former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond, two-time gubernatorial contender Stacey Abrams, and Rev. Olujimi “Olu” Brown, a Methodist minister.
Bottoms has a long history in Atlanta politics. She was elected to the Atlanta City Council in 2009, reelected in 2013, and later endorsed by outgoing Mayor Kasim Reed to succeed him as mayor. She served one term, which was marked by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, she made headlines by choosing not to seek a second term, a decision that surprised many in Georgia’s political circles. Despite this, she maintains that her decision was not due to a lack of dedication to public service but rather a desire to focus on other endeavors.
After supporting Joe Biden in his presidential bid, Bottoms was considered a potential vice-presidential candidate. She later joined the Biden administration as the director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. Bottoms is not concerned about being linked to an unpopular Biden, and she is confident in her record, especially regarding crime and public safety. Her administration faced challenges with rising murder rates, which affected cities across the country during the pandemic, but she points to her support for historic pay raises for police and firefighters and the development of a new public safety training center in Atlanta as significant achievements.
One of her most notable moments as mayor came during the protests following George Floyd’s death in 2020, when she was praised for her calm and leadership. However, Atlanta also faced turmoil after the police killing of Rayshard Brooks, which sparked protests and led to challenges for Bottoms’ leadership. Despite attacks from President Donald Trump and Governor Kemp, Bottoms remains confident that her steady leadership through chaotic times will resonate with Georgia voters.
Bottoms is hopeful that her ability to lead through crisis will make her a strong candidate for governor.
