ATLANTA — Former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is making a political comeback. On Tuesday, the 55-year-old Democrat launched her campaign for Georgia governor, positioning herself as a battle-tested leader ready to fight for communities under threat.
“As we are facing the uncertainty and the anxiety that’s being created in Washington right now, I’m running to be a fighter for Georgia,” Bottoms told the Associated Press.
The former mayor joins State Sen. Jason Esteves in what’s shaping up to be a competitive Democratic field for 2026. With Republican Gov. Brian Kemp term-limited, Georgia is bracing for a high-stakes election that could determine the direction of healthcare, education, and public safety across the South.
Why Bottoms says she’s ready now
Bottoms served one term as Atlanta’s mayor, a period marked by crisis leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and uprisings over police violence. Despite intense pressure and political attacks—including from then-President Donald Trump—she stood firm.
“Not having the energy to do the job, that was not the case. In fact, I ran through the tape,” she said, defending her decision not to seek reelection in 2021. “I continued to accomplish things until the end of my term.”
Her campaign centers on issues that disproportionately impact Black and working-class Georgians: Medicaid expansion, small business support, and access to vocational training. “I want to be able to fight and deliver for our communities,” she said.
A record Republicans won’t ignore
Bottoms has already drawn GOP ire for her time as mayor, especially her leadership during the 2020 racial justice protests. After George Floyd’s death, she famously told protestors to “go home,” flanked by Atlanta legends Killer Mike and T.I. But the weeks that followed were volatile. Rayshard Brooks, a Black man, was killed by an Atlanta police officer, prompting further protests and national scrutiny.
In the aftermath, Atlanta’s police chief resigned. Officers staged callouts in protest of charges filed against colleagues. That summer, 8-year-old Secoriea Turner was shot and killed near the burned-out Wendy’s where Brooks died.
Those events made Bottoms a target—especially for Trump and Kemp—but she didn’t fold. She says her record proves her strength under pressure.
“My record has been one of providing steady leadership during chaotic times,” she said. “As mayor I gave our police and firefighters a historic pay raise. I actually supported the building of the public safety center in Atlanta that’s servicing people across the region.”
The Biden connection—and the GOP attacks to come
After stepping down as mayor, Bottoms joined the Biden administration as director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. Though some Democrats might fear her close ties to Biden—whose approval ratings are underwater in Georgia—Bottoms doesn’t flinch.
She’s betting voters will remember her not for partisan affiliations, but for what she delivered under pressure.
The Republican field is also heating up, with Attorney General Chris Carr already running and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones expected to enter soon. But Bottoms’ campaign could reshape the race—especially if other major Democrats like Stacey Abrams or Michael Thurmond join in.
What’s at stake for Georgia amid upcoming Governor race
Bottoms’ return signals a broader fight over who gets to lead—and protect—Georgia’s most marginalized communities. If elected, she would become Georgia’s first Black woman governor.
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