Keisha Lance Bottoms Wins Georgia Governor Election

Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms has won the Georgia governor's race, defeating Republican businessman Rick Jackson to become the first Black woman elected governor in American history. The victory marks the first time a Democrat has won the office in Georgia since 1998, when Roy Barnes left office in 2003.

Election Results and Margin

According to NBC News, Bottoms received 2,259,100 votes (54.2%), while Jackson received 1,905,921 votes (45.8%). The race was described by WSB-TV as the tightest for governor in 60 years. The election results show the Georgia Governor race shifted 10.67 points toward Democrats compared with the 2024 presidential election.

In specific county results reported by NBC News:

• Appling County: Rick Jackson received 4,819 votes (77.8%) and Keisha Lance Bottoms received 1,375 votes (22.2%).
• Atkinson County: Rick Jackson received 1,548 votes (69.1%) and Keisha Lance Bottoms received 692 votes (30.9%).
• Bacon County: Rick Jackson received 2,967 votes (84.3%) and Keisha Lance Bottoms received 554 votes (15.7%).
• Baker County: Rick Jackson received 663 votes (58.2%) and Keisha Lance Bottoms received 476 votes (41.8%).

Candidate Backgrounds

Bottoms previously served as the mayor of Atlanta from 2018 to 2022 and worked as a senior adviser in the Biden administration. She earned a communications degree from Florida A&M University and a law degree from Georgia State University College of Law. She has also served as an Atlanta magistrate judge and on the Atlanta City Council.

Jackson, a healthcare executive, founded Jackson Healthcare, a medical staffing company with more than $3 billion in annual revenue. He spent more than $200 million of his personal wealth on the campaign. Jackson was endorsed by outgoing Governor Brian Kemp and President Donald Trump.

Campaign Platforms

Bottoms centered her campaign on several key issues:

• Healthcare: She pledged full Medicaid expansion as a day-one priority to replace the Georgia Pathways model.
• Economic Relief: She proposed raising the state minimum wage to $15 an hour and suggested giving local governments flexibility to eliminate taxes on groceries and basic household goods.
• Taxation: Her "Drive Plan" includes lowering the state gasoline tax to 28 cents per gallon and eliminating the 2.25% state tax on auto insurance premiums.
• Other Priorities: She called for repealing Georgia's abortion restrictions, establishing a statewide affordable housing trust fund, and making community and technical colleges tuition-free.

Jackson campaigned on cutting the state income tax in half within four years and eliminating it entirely within eight years. He also advocated for freezing property tax assessments and defending existing abortion laws.

Why it matters

Bottoms' victory ends more than two decades of Republican executive control over the state mansion. She succeeds Governor Brian Kemp, who was barred by law from seeking a third term. While Democrats fought to flip the state House, Republicans were heavily favored to hold their state Senate majority.

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Sources

• nbcnews.com: Georgia Governor Election 2026 Live Results: Keisha Lance Bottoms Wins
• fox5atlanta.com: Keisha Lance Bottoms wins Georgia governor race in historic election | FOX 5 Atlanta
• wsbtv.com: Keisha Lance Bottoms wins Georgia governor election - WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta
• wjcl.com: Keisha Lance Bottoms wins Georgia governor's race - WJCL
• fox9.com: Keisha Lance Bottoms wins Georgia governor race in historic election | FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul
• georgiarecorder.com: Keisha Lance Bottoms will be Georgia’s next governor in historic win • Georgia Recorder

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.