Keisha Lance Bottoms Launches Gubernatorial Campaign in Georgia
Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has officially kicked off her campaign for the governorship of Georgia, a move that could signal the Democratic Party’s strength heading into the upcoming elections in this crucial swing state.
In a campaign video set to debut on Tuesday, Bottoms, who previously served in the Biden administration after surprising many by opting against a second term as mayor, cites the reelection of Donald Trump as a pivotal motivator for her gubernatorial aspirations. “November was a turning point for me, and I know it was for people across the state of Georgia and for people across the country,” she shared in an interview with POLITICO.
Should she win, Bottoms would make history as Georgia’s first Black governor. She is banking on Trump’s declining popularity—largely attributed to economic uncertainties stemming from his trade policies—to help flip Georgia back into the Democratic column.
“Not only did I find myself in fights with Donald Trump on behalf of the people of Atlanta, but also with our state’s governor,” she remarked, subtly referencing the popular Republican Governor Brian Kemp, who, by the way, is ineligible to seek re-election due to term limits.
In 2020, Joe Biden claimed victory in Georgia, subsequently sending two Democrats, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, to the Senate. Trump, however, managed to win the state in 2024, and the upcoming governor’s race could serve as a bellwether for the political landscape leading to the next presidential election.
As Bottoms enters the 2026 Democratic primary, she enjoys substantial name recognition throughout the Peach State, though questions linger regarding her ability to extend her appeal beyond the Atlanta metropolitan area.
Moreover, there are concerns about whether Georgia voters might hesitate to elevate her to the state’s highest office, given her unexpected decision to step down from her mayoral position. The Democratic primary could see stiff competition, with state Senator Jason Esteves and Atlanta pastor Olu Brown already in the race. Meanwhile, Rep. Lucy McBath has paused her exploratory campaign to support her husband’s recovery from cancer but might still consider running for governor in the future.
On the Republican side, state Attorney General Chris Carr has been campaigning since last year, and MAGA favorite Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is reportedly contemplating a run after opting out of a Senate bid.
Bottoms’ campaign priorities emphasize fostering small business growth, tackling the teacher shortage by eliminating income taxes for educators, and expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. She quipped, “We always talk about beating Alabama and LSU in football, but [those states are] beating us when it comes to health care.”
However, her decision to leave office after just one term will likely haunt her throughout the Democratic primary and perhaps beyond. Once seen as a rising star within the Democratic Party, her choice to step back caught many off guard.
In the wake of Biden securing the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, Bottoms was frequently mentioned as a potential vice presidential pick. After Biden’s election, she was offered a Cabinet position, which she ultimately declined.
Her term as mayor was fraught with challenges, from a significant cyberattack to the federal corruption investigation surrounding her predecessor, ex-Mayor Kasim Reed, as well as managing the city during the pandemic and civil unrest following the police shooting of Rayshard Brooks.
Reflecting on her tenure, she stated, “I served my entire four years, even when extended the opportunity to leave early and join the Biden administration in a Cabinet role, and I chose to stay. I wanted to complete my term. So I’m proud of that service, so I’m not concerned about that at all.”
In June 2022, Biden appointed her as a senior adviser overseeing the White House Office of Public Engagement. She also served on his Export Council, a position that Trump claimed she was fired from when he took office—a claim she refutes, asserting she resigned before his inauguration.
Her campaign launch comes at a particularly sensitive time for Democrats, coinciding with the release of a controversial book alleging that Trump experienced significant cognitive decline toward the end of his presidency, with aides reportedly concealing the situation from the public.
Bottoms concluded her remarks by noting that her role as a senior adviser ended in 2023 and that she did not observe any mental decline in Biden during their interactions.
