MFNC Political Directory
Keisha Lance Bottoms
Governor · Georgia · Democratic
Elected · Not Yet In Office
At a Glance
Quick Reference- Office
- Governor
- State
- Georgia
- Party
- Democratic
- Born
- January 18, 1970
- Birthplace
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Education
- Frederick Douglass High School, Atlanta, Florida A&M University — Bachelor's Degree, Georgia State University College of Law — Juris Doctor
- Spouse
- Derek W. Bottoms
- Children
- Four children
- Term Begins
- January 2027 (anticipated)
- Previous Office
- Mayor of Atlanta (2018–2022)
The Story So Far
Keisha Lance Bottoms is an American attorney, former mayor of Atlanta, and Democratic governor-elect of Georgia. On November 3, 2026, she defeated Republican Rick Jackson in the state's gubernatorial election, becoming the first Black woman elected governor of a U.S. state. Her victory also made her the first woman and first Black person elected governor of Georgia. She is expected to succeed term-limited Republican Governor Brian Kemp in January 2027. Georgia election results.
Born in Atlanta on January 18, 1970, Bottoms is the daughter of Sylvia Robinson and R&B singer Major Lance. She attended Atlanta Public Schools and graduated from Frederick Douglass High School before earning an undergraduate degree from Florida A&M University and a law degree from Georgia State University. Her professional career has included work as an attorney, judge, local elected official, and federal government adviser. Congressional biographical record.
Bottoms represented District 11 on the Atlanta City Council from 2010 through 2017. She was elected Atlanta's 60th mayor in 2017 and served from January 2018 until January 2022. Her administration confronted the COVID-19 pandemic, protests over racial injustice, public safety concerns, and debates over housing affordability and city development. Political and election history.
After leaving the mayor's office, Bottoms joined President Joe Biden's administration in 2022 as a senior adviser and director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. She left that position in 2023 and subsequently worked in political commentary and public affairs. In 2026, she returned to electoral politics as a candidate for governor. Biographical information.
Her gubernatorial campaign emphasized Medicaid expansion, education funding, housing affordability, reproductive rights, voting access, and public safety. Those proposals remain campaign commitments rather than accomplishments of a gubernatorial administration. As of November 4, 2026, Georgia's election results had not yet been officially certified.
Political Career
Before 2010
Attorney and Judicial Service
Practiced law and served in judicial roles in Atlanta. Her legal and public-service background preceded her election to the Atlanta City Council.
2010–2017
Atlanta City Councilmember
Represented Atlanta City Council District 11, participating in municipal legislation, budgeting, and neighborhood governance.
2017
Elected Mayor of Atlanta
Won Atlanta's mayoral election following a runoff against Mary Norwood.
2018–2022
60th Mayor of Atlanta
Led Atlanta's municipal government, including its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, public safety challenges, and racial justice demonstrations. Her administration also introduced an Open Checkbook financial transparency initiative and an Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
2022–2023
Senior Adviser to President Joe Biden
Served as senior adviser and director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, coordinating outreach to community organizations and other stakeholders.
2023–2025
Political Commentary and Public Affairs
Worked in political commentary and public affairs following her White House service.
2026
Georgia Gubernatorial Campaign
Secured the Democratic nomination and campaigned on healthcare access, affordability, education, civil rights, and government accountability.
November 3, 2026
Elected Governor of Georgia
Defeated Republican Rick Jackson, becoming the first Black woman elected governor of a U.S. state and Georgia's first woman elected governor. Results remained unofficial on November 4.
Policies & Positions
This section will document publicly stated positions, proposals, and legislative or executive actions.
Gun Rights & Regulation
Supports additional firearm regulations, including universal background checks and a red flag law.
Publicly Stated Position
Her 2026 campaign endorsed universal background checks and a law allowing courts to temporarily restrict firearm access for individuals determined to pose a serious risk.
Proposals & Commitments
Support universal background checks and enact a red flag law.
Legislative / Executive Record
Her previous public safety responsibilities were primarily municipal. These statewide firearm proposals had not been enacted under her governorship as of November 4, 2026.
Civil Rights & Equality
Supports racial equality, LGBTQ+ protections, and expanded civil rights initiatives.
Publicly Stated Position
Bottoms has publicly advocated for racial equality and LGBTQ+ inclusion throughout her political career.
Proposals & Commitments
Her gubernatorial campaign emphasized protecting civil rights and opposing measures it characterized as discriminatory.
Legislative / Executive Record
As mayor, her administration established an Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and appointed an LGBTQ Affairs Coordinator.
Healthcare
Supports Medicaid expansion, rural healthcare investment, and measures intended to reduce prescription drug costs.
Publicly Stated Position
Bottoms has called for full Medicaid expansion in Georgia and criticized the state's existing Georgia Pathways program.
Proposals & Commitments
Expand Medicaid eligibility, replace Georgia Pathways, establish a Georgia Rx Savings Board, strengthen rural hospitals, expand telehealth, and improve maternal and mental healthcare.
Legislative / Executive Record
Led Atlanta's municipal response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her proposed statewide healthcare reforms had not been implemented under her governorship.
Education
Supports increased public education funding, universal pre-K, teacher tax relief, and expanded postsecondary training.
Publicly Stated Position
Bottoms has advocated for fully funding Georgia public schools and revising the state's education funding formula.
Proposals & Commitments
Expand early childhood education and childcare, eliminate state income taxes for teachers, strengthen literacy education, and create a pathway to free technical and community college.
Legislative / Executive Record
No gubernatorial education legislation had been enacted by Bottoms as of November 4, 2026.
Economy & Taxes
Supports targeted tax relief, small-business assistance, and policies intended to reduce household expenses.
Publicly Stated Position
Her campaign emphasized affordability and greater state support for small businesses.
Proposals & Commitments
Create a state Office of Small Business, expand business grants and loans, provide targeted property-tax relief, and allow local governments to suspend certain sales taxes on essential goods.
Legislative / Executive Record
Her mayoral administration reported four balanced budgets without property-tax increases, layoffs, or furloughs. These figures are drawn from her campaign biography and require independent budget verification.
Climate & Environment
Supports flood mitigation, environmental protections, and closer review of data center development.
Publicly Stated Position
Bottoms has argued that economic development should account for environmental impacts, water consumption, and household utility costs.
Proposals & Commitments
Invest in flood mitigation, brownfield redevelopment, water infrastructure, and stronger scrutiny of large data center projects.
Legislative / Executive Record
Her Atlanta administration reported urban sustainability initiatives, including tree planting. Her statewide environmental proposals remain unimplemented.
Crime & Public Safety
Supports law enforcement resources alongside violence prevention, diversion, and rehabilitation programs.
Publicly Stated Position
Bottoms has advocated combining criminal law enforcement with prevention and alternatives to incarceration for some offenses.
Proposals & Commitments
Expand Georgia Bureau of Investigation resources, increase forensic support, invest in violence reduction, expand diversion programs, and create a Prison to Work reentry initiative.
Legislative / Executive Record
As mayor, Bottoms' administration pursued changes to Atlanta's cash-bail practices and governed during major public safety debates and protests. The outcomes of these policies require separate evaluation.
Immigration
Has opposed certain federal immigration enforcement policies and advocated for immigrant communities.
Publicly Stated Position
Her public record includes criticism of federal immigration enforcement practices.
Proposals & Commitments
A comprehensive, independently verified 2026 state immigration platform has not yet been established for this profile.
Legislative / Executive Record
Her Atlanta administration addressed immigration enforcement and cooperation with federal authorities. Specific actions and outcomes require further primary-source verification.
Reproductive Rights
Supports abortion rights and repeal of Georgia's restrictive abortion law.
Publicly Stated Position
Bottoms supports restoring abortion protections comparable to those established under Roe v. Wade.
Proposals & Commitments
Repeal Georgia's abortion restrictions, protect access to reproductive healthcare, and expand maternal healthcare services.
Legislative / Executive Record
As of November 4, 2026, Bottoms had not exercised gubernatorial authority over Georgia abortion legislation.
Housing
Supports affordable housing construction, down-payment assistance, and expanded renter support.
Publicly Stated Position
Bottoms has identified housing affordability as a major economic issue for Georgia residents.
Proposals & Commitments
Create a Georgia Housing Fast Track initiative, establish an affordable housing trust fund, expand down-payment and renter assistance, and streamline housing development approvals.
Legislative / Executive Record
Housing affordability was part of her Atlanta mayoral agenda. The measurable outcomes of individual municipal programs require further research.
Labor & Workers' Rights
Supports higher wages and expanded economic opportunities for workers.
Publicly Stated Position
Bottoms has supported raising minimum wages and increasing compensation for public employees.
Proposals & Commitments
Advocate for a $15 statewide minimum wage, improve public employee compensation, and expand workforce training opportunities.
Legislative / Executive Record
Her Atlanta administration reported maintaining municipal employment without layoffs or furloughs during the pandemic-related downturn. Independent verification of those claims remains necessary.
Foreign Policy
Foreign policy is primarily a federal responsibility rather than a gubernatorial function.
Publicly Stated Position
No sufficiently documented position found.
Proposals & Commitments
No sufficiently documented position found.
Legislative / Executive Record
Bottoms served on the President's Export Council, which advises on international trade. This does not establish a comprehensive foreign policy position.
Technology & Privacy
Supports scrutiny of data center development and has a municipal record involving government financial transparency.
Publicly Stated Position
Bottoms has expressed concern about the infrastructure and utility impacts of rapid data center development.
Proposals & Commitments
Reassess large data center expansion. A comprehensive position on artificial intelligence regulation and consumer data privacy has not been sufficiently documented.
Legislative / Executive Record
Her Atlanta administration introduced the Open Checkbook financial transparency platform.
Voting Rights
Supports expanded voting access and protections for election administration.
Publicly Stated Position
Bottoms has criticized voting restrictions and supported measures intended to make participation in elections more accessible.
Proposals & Commitments
Expand early voting, protect absentee voting, make Election Day a state holiday, and strengthen protections against political interference in election administration.
Legislative / Executive Record
Served in Democratic Party civic engagement and voter protection activities before her gubernatorial campaign. No gubernatorial voting legislation had been enacted by her as of November 4, 2026.
Election History
| Year | Office | Result | Vote Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Governor of Georgia | Won — unofficial results; certification pending | 54.2% (AP-reported, 97% counted) |
| 2026 | Democratic Primary — Governor of Georgia | Won Democratic nomination | 56.23% (608,264 votes) |
| 2017 | Mayor of Atlanta — Runoff | Won runoff election | 50.45% (46,667 votes) |
| 2013 | Atlanta City Council — District 11 | Reelected | 88.96% (4,963 votes) |
| 2009 | Atlanta City Council — District 11 | Elected | 53.54% (4,495 votes) |
Beyond Politics
- On November 3, 2026, Bottoms became the first Black woman elected governor of a U.S. state.
- She is also the first woman and first Black person elected governor of Georgia.
- Her father, Major Lance, was an R&B singer known for several hits during the 1960s.
- She attended Atlanta Public Schools before studying at Florida A&M University and Georgia State University College of Law.
- Before becoming governor-elect, she served as an attorney, judge, city councilmember, mayor, and White House senior adviser.
- She and her husband, Derek Bottoms, are parents to four children.
- She has publicly discussed her family's experience with adoption and advocated for adoption and foster care.
- She served as Atlanta's 60th mayor from 2018 to 2022.
Sources & References
- results.sos.ga.gov
- apnews.com
- reuters.com
- congress.gov
- keishaforgovernor.com
- keishaforgovernor.com
- ballotpedia.org
- guides.vote
- ajc.com
- keishalancebottoms.com
Last verified: 2026-11-04