Former Atlanta Democratic Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms entered into the Georgia gubernatorial race, marking a significant development for the Democratic side of the race.
Bottoms, who led Atlanta between 2018 and 2022, has outlined a platform centered on Medicaid expansion and income tax elimination for teachers. Her resume includes a stint as senior adviser to the Biden administration, in addition to serving as chief executive of Atlanta.
“People have seen me fight. They know that I’m not afraid of Donald Trump,” Bottoms said during her campaign rollout earlier this month, positioning herself as one who directly confronted Trump administration policies in office, a stance she continues to emphasize as part of her political identity.
The Democratic primary field was already taking shape before Bottoms' announcement. Georgia Democratic State Senator Jason Esteves and Atlanta pastor Olu Brown had previously declared their candidacies, creating a competitive nomination contest.
On the other side, Georgia Republican Attorney General Chris Carr has launched his campaign, while other potential contenders, including Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, appear to be weighing their options.
Georgia remains a crucial battleground. The political dynamics of the state continue to evolve since the narrow victory of the Biden campaign five years ago. Both the gubernatorial and Senate races are classified as toss-ups heading into the next election cycle, according to an analysis from the Cook Political Report.
Georgia Republican Governor Brian Kemp cannot seek another term due to term limits. If successful in her bid, Bottoms would break a Democratic drought for the gubernatorial position dating back almost three decades.
Bottoms previously raised eyebrows with her decision not to pursue a second mayoral term, and she must demonstrate appeal beyond the metropolitan boundaries of Atlanta. The coming months will test whether Bottoms can unite Democratic voters while attracting new support.
