Keisha Lance Bottoms Wins Democratic Primary for Georgia Governor

Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms won the Democratic primary for Georgia governor, NBC News and CBS News project. She received more than 50 percent of the vote, enough to avoid a runoff and advance directly to the November general election. Bottoms emerged from a field that included former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond, former state Sen.

Jason Esteves, and former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan. She had led in primary polls and received an endorsement from former President Joe Biden.

Bottoms centered her campaign on voting rights, healthcare access, and economic equity. She also highlighted her experience as mayor of Atlanta from 2018 to 2022 and as a senior adviser in the Biden administration.

“Who I am is a battle-tested leader, and what I've been saying to people across the state is, I know what it's like to go into battle," she said. ”

Republicans have already begun attacking her record on crime, disorder, and pandemic management during her time as mayor. Some candidates referenced her tenure in ads before the primary concluded.

General Election Outlook Bottoms will face either Lt. Gov.

Burt Jones or billionaire healthcare executive Rick Jackson, who advanced to a June runoff in the Republican primary. Georgia has not elected a Democratic governor since 1998. If elected, Bottoms said she would exempt teachers from state income taxes and increase access to affordable housing by cracking down on large-scale single-family home rentals.

Georgia remains a key battleground state in federal elections but has continued to favor Republicans in statewide contests.