Keisha Lance Bottoms wins Georgia governor race in historic election
Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms speaks at a campaign event on October 17, 2026 in Marietta, Georgia. Bottoms is facing Republican Gubernatorial nominee Rick Jackson and Ossoff is facing Republican Sen. Mike Collins for
ATLANTA - Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms captured the Georgia governor's office Tuesday, defeating Republican businessman Rick Jackson to become the first Black woman elected governor in American history.
Bottoms is the first Democrat to win a Georgia governor's race since 1998, succeeding Republican Gov. Brian Kemp after he was barred by law from seeking a third term. Her victory arrived despite a substantial spending gap against Jackson, who spent more than $200 million of his own fortune.
Historic Georgia election victory
The backstory:
Bottoms previously served as Atlanta mayor and worked as a senior adviser in the Biden White House.
Her victory makes her the first Atlanta mayor elected to the state's highest executive office.
The contentious campaign pivoted on ideological divides regarding health care access, economic relief, abortion and public safety.
Bottoms is only the fourth Black governor elected in U.S. history, following three Democratic men, and was one of two Black women seeking governorships nationwide alongside Republican Lisa Demuth of Minnesota.
Her election marks the third straight cycle a Black woman topped the Democratic ticket in Georgia, following two unsuccessful runs by Stacey Abrams.
The win also overcomes a long pattern of voters rejecting Atlanta leaders for the executive mansion.
A descendant of enslaved Georgians from Crawfordville, Bottoms noted her grandfather had to enter Atlanta buildings through back doors that she later entered through the front as mayor.
What they're saying:
In her victory speech on Tuesday night, Bottoms reaffirmed her plans to expand Medicaid and be a governor for all the citizens of Georgia.
"This campaign was about every community and every corner of Georgia. It is for the veteran who needs access to health care. It's for the college students. It is for the teenager who's asked about mental health support. This win is for the caregiver who can't afford health care and needs Georgia to finally expand Medicaid," Bottoms said.
She recalled her roots in Crawfordsville, where her family traces back five generations.
"Crawfordsville produced the Confederacy's vice president, but tonight it also produced your next governor. Tonight should remind us all that no matter what community we come from, Georgia is not defined by one moment in time or by one person. It's been defined by all of us. And I will be a governor for everyone in this state," Bottoms said.
Keisha Lance Bottoms makes history in Georgia governor race
Keisha Lance Bottoms declared victory as Georgia's 84th governor following a 532-day campaign, pledging to expand Medicaid, support foster youth and unite communities statewide.
Platform for state government
What we know:
Bottoms pledged full Medicaid expansion as a day-one executive priority to replace the state's more restrictive Georgia Pathways model.
RELATED: Georgia governor candidate profile: Keisha Lance Bottoms
Her policy agenda calls for repealing Georgia's abortion restrictions to restore protections under the Roe v. Wade standard.
Her platform also seeks to raise the state minimum wage to $15 an hour, establish a statewide affordable housing trust fund, and make community and technical colleges tuition-free.
To cut consumer household costs, Bottoms proposed lowering the state gasoline tax to 28 cents per gallon, eliminating the 2.25% state tax on auto insurance premiums and capping insurance rate increases at once per year.
Sharp contrast in leadership
The other side:
Jackson founded Jackson Healthcare, a medical staffing company reporting more than $3 billion in annual revenue, after growing up in foster care.
He spent more than $200 million of his personal wealth to secure the Republican nomination.
Jackson campaigned on cutting the state income tax in half within four years and eliminating it entirely within eight. He also advocated freezing property tax assessments, defending existing abortion laws, and restricting gas tax suspensions strictly to emergencies.
"Tonight the voters spoke. And I respect their decision," Jackson said in his concession speech. "This was a hard-fought election. Keisha Lance Bottoms deserves our congratulations and our prayers as she prepares to take office."
Rick Jackson concedes in Georgia's governor race
Rick Jackson conceded the Georgia governor race after determining he lacked enough votes to cross the finish line.
Statehouse balance of power
What we don't know:
Officials have not yet determined the full balance of power in the General Assembly, where Democrats fought Tuesday to flip the state House.
Republicans were heavily favored to hold their state Senate majority, leaving questions about how many GOP-controlled chambers Bottoms will have to navigate.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from campaign statements and victory speeches delivered in Atlanta, as well as state campaign financial filings and public candidate debate records. Additional information comes from The Associated Press.