Keisha Lance Bottoms

Atlanta's former mayor won the Democratic nomination outright in the May 19 primary. She faces billionaire businessman Rick Jackson, who beat Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the GOP runoff. If she wins, she would be the first Black woman to serve as governor of any U.S. state.

On the ballot against Rick Jackson (R)

Why it matters: Georgia's governor's seat is open this year, and Cook, Sabato and Inside Elections all rate the race a toss-up, with polls inside the margin of error.

Give to Keisha directly Volunteer Campaign site Your voting plan

Direct gifts go 100% to the campaign through its own official page. We never see or handle them.

The race at a glance

Race ratingToss-upCook Political Report, Oct 13 source

Latest poll Bottoms 45% 46% Jackson 9% undecided or other University of Georgia, released Oct 20, 2026, 1,000 LV. source

Money raised Bottoms$6,000,000 Jackson$118,000,000 State disclosures as reported: Bottoms 'nearly $6 million', Jackson 'more than $118 million' (much of it his own money). No later report found. source

In Keisha's own words

**Keisha Lance Bottoms**, Standing next to an empty podium after Rick Jackson skipped the Georgia Public Broadcasting debate (reported Oct. 14, 2026) source

**Keisha Lance Bottoms**, On the Centennial Yards project during a business walk in Atlanta, Sep 8 source

Where Keisha stands

Health care: Expand Medicaid, end the Georgia Pathways program, stabilize rural hospitals and create a state board to lower prescription drug costs. source
Housing: Lower housing costs by speeding up permits, expanding down payment and renter help, and creating an affordable housing trust fund. source
Education: Fully fund public schools, update the school funding formula, remove state income tax for teachers and create a path to free technical and community college. source
Rights and voting: Restore abortion rights, protect local election officials, limit the State Election Board and expand early and absentee voting. source
Grocery costs: Let local governments suspend or end local sales taxes on groceries and essentials such as diapers and baby formula when prices spike. source

The record

Mayor of Atlanta, 2018–2022
Senior adviser to President Biden and director of the White House Office of Public Engagement
Won the 2026 Democratic primary outright, avoiding a runoff

ConfidentialThe GOP File

The file on Rick Jackson

Rick Jackson, a health care executive, spent over $100 million of his own money to win the Republican primary. source
Jackson skipped the Georgia Public Broadcasting governor's debate in October 2026 and toured the state with Gov. Brian Kemp instead. source
Jackson proposes cutting Georgia's state income tax in half within four years and supports Georgia's existing abortion law; his Medicaid position shifted from opposing full expansion to supporting expansion if it does not risk existing federal funding. source

Endorsed by

Georgia AFL-CIO Former President Joe Biden Coalition of more than 30 Georgia law enforcement officials

On tape

Trump can say it as loud as he wants. Keisha Lance Bottoms says Georgia's vote tally won't lie.Oct 21

Keisha Lance Bottoms. Photo: Executive Office of the President of the United States, Public domain

Profile sources: 1, 2

Race data checked Wednesday, October 21, 2026. Quotes on this page were matched word for word against their sources.