Bottoms Wins Georgia Governorship
The former Atlanta mayor defeated Rick Jackson in a tight contest, becoming the first Black woman elected to the office.
By Elijah Fitzgerald ·
Keisha Lance Bottoms won the Georgia gubernatorial election on November 2, 2026.
The Associated Press, CNN, and NBC News projected a victory for Bottoms at 9:24 PM EST. She secured 54.4% of the vote against 45.6% for healthcare businessman Rick Jackson. This result occurred with over 70% of precincts reporting. Bottoms is the first Black woman elected governor in the United States. She is also the first Democratic governor in Georgia since 1998.
The 2018 election in Georgia was decided by a narrow margin. Bottoms cited an average of 21 votes per precinct as the difference between the winner and the loser in that cycle. That statistic served as a rallying point for voters and organizers in the 2026 race. The current victory reflects years of sustained community engagement and voter education efforts across the state.
Bottoms structured her campaign around affordability and statewide outreach. She visited cities including Columbus, Macon, Augusta, Albany, Valdosta, Waycross, and Rome. In a campaign interview, she stated, "I get to talk, but most importantly, I get to listen and I can put faces with the fight, the people I'm fighting for." Her platform focused on groceries, healthcare, housing, and childcare costs. Jackson relied on broader economic messaging without the same localized ground game.
Bottoms outlined specific policy proposals during her campaign. She proposed allowing local governments to suspend or end grocery taxes if they could afford it. She also pledged to eliminate taxes on diapers, feminine hygiene products, and baby formula. She noted that the state budget begins in the governor's office before moving to the legislature. She identified mental health services, healthcare access, workforce housing, education funding, and small business support as key budgetary priorities.
The transition to a new administration begins immediately following the race call. Bottoms' team will staff the new office and review the state budget. They will set legislative priorities for the coming session. Community leaders will monitor the speed at which grocery tax relief and small business funding become law. Residents can expect early legislative pushes on affordability issues. Direct community engagement in cities like Macon and Augusta is likely to continue. Bottoms told supporters, "We just gotta win.. There'll be a time to celebrate. There'll be a time to work."
