Washington, Nov 2026 : Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, former mayor of Atlanta, has won the Georgia gubernatorial election, becoming the first Black woman elected governor of a US state, according to media projections on Tuesday.
Bottoms defeated Republican candidate Rick Jackson, a billionaire healthcare executive, bringing an end to more than two decades of Republican control of Georgia's governor's office. The outgoing Republican Governor Brian Kemp was barred from seeking another term due to term limits.
The victory marks a setback for US President Donald Trump, who endorsed Jackson in July and campaigned alongside him in the Atlanta area during the final weeks of the election. Former President Barack Obama, meanwhile, campaigned for Bottoms in Georgia in late October.
Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff also secured re-election on Tuesday, defeating Republican Congressman Mike Collins. The outcome further underlined Georgia's importance as a battleground state. Georgia backed Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election before voting for Trump in 2024.
Bottoms served as Atlanta's mayor from 2018 to 2022 but chose not to seek a second term. She subsequently joined the Biden administration as Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. She later worked as a senior adviser to Biden's 2024 re-election campaign.
During her gubernatorial campaign, Bottoms focused on expanding Medicaid, reducing living costs for families and protecting voting rights. Her victory returns the state's top executive office to the Democrats.
Jackson entered the gubernatorial race in February, presenting himself as a political outsider. He highlighted his experience growing up in Georgia's foster care system as part of his campaign narrative.
The billionaire businessman reportedly spent more than $100 million of his personal fortune on the election campaign. He secured the Republican nomination after defeating Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones in a June primary runoff. Jones had initially received Trump's backing before Jackson emerged as the party's candidate.
Bottoms' election is a historic milestone for representation in American state politics, while the change in Georgia's governorship marks a significant shift in the state's political leadership.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
