Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms has won Georgia’s gubernatorial election, defeating Republican billionaire Rick Jackson and delivering Democrats their first victory in the governor’s race in 24 years.
Bottoms, a former Atlanta mayor and Biden administration official, prevailed despite facing a significant financial disadvantage against Jackson, a healthcare executive who invested more than $100 million of his personal fortune into his campaign.
Her victory marks a historic milestone: Bottoms becomes the first woman and the first Black person elected governor of Georgia.
Throughout her campaign, Bottoms emphasized affordability and economic concerns, reflecting a broader strategy adopted by Democrats nationwide. In the final weeks, her campaign targeted Jackson over his previous support for data center development and highlighted his connections to President Donald Trump, whose approval ratings had weakened in Georgia.
Jackson had repeatedly compared himself to Trump during a contentious Republican primary, providing Bottoms with statements she later used against him in the general election.
During their only debate last month, Bottoms criticized Jackson for saying he wanted to become “Trump’s favorite governor.” She also challenged his association with Trump’s efforts to question the 2020 presidential election results.
The issue carries particular significance in Georgia, where the FBI seized records connected to the 2020 election earlier this year. The state’s next governor will also have an important role in the certification process following the 2028 presidential election.
Jackson initially declined to identify the winner of the 2020 election during the Republican primary but acknowledged Joe Biden’s victory before facing Bottoms in the general election.
Bottoms will replace Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who was barred by term limits from seeking another term. She also strengthened her campaign through an alliance with Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, who faced his own re-election contest this year.
Ossoff appeared alongside Bottoms at several “United for Georgia” rallies, while his campaign contributed millions of dollars to the Georgia Democratic Party’s coordinated campaign efforts supporting her candidacy.
The outcome represents a major breakthrough for Georgia Democrats. Although the state has become increasingly competitive in presidential and congressional elections, Republicans have maintained their dominance in statewide politics. Before this election, Democrats had not won Georgia’s governorship since 1998.
Bottoms also received substantial support from nationally recognized Democratic leaders during the closing weeks of the campaign.
Former President Barack Obama endorsed her through a campaign video, while Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock and other prominent Democratic officials traveled to the state to support her candidacy.
Republicans repeatedly attacked Bottoms over her record as Atlanta mayor between 2018 and 2022. Her administration faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying period of social unrest. Bottoms ultimately chose not to seek another mayoral term, pointing to the difficulties she experienced while leading the city.
Jackson, a political newcomer who entered the governor’s race in February, initially presented himself as a successful business executive and political outsider, drawing comparisons to Trump’s approach.
Despite Trump’s endorsement of Lt. Gov. Burt Jones during the Republican primary, Jackson secured the nomination. He subsequently adjusted his general election strategy, seeking closer political alignment with outgoing Gov. Brian Kemp.
However, divisions within the Republican Party persisted following the fiercely contested primary.
Jones, who lost to Jackson in a June runoff, never publicly endorsed his former opponent, even after Trump reportedly encouraged him privately to offer his support.
Bottoms’ victory ultimately ends more than two decades of Republican control of Georgia’s governorship, delivering a significant political achievement for Democrats and a historic first for the state.