Former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms defeats Rick Jackson in close GA election

Democratic candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms won the Georgia gubernatorial election Tuesday, becoming the first Black woman elected as a U.S. governor. She defeated Republican businessman Rick Jackson in a closely contested race.

Bottoms, a former mayor of Atlanta, is the first Democrat to win a gubernatorial election in Georgia since 1998. Her victory came despite a major funding disparity, as Jackson spent more than $200 million of his personal wealth on his campaign.

Throughout the campaign, Bottoms focused her platform on expanding access to affordable health care, housing, and improved education. She highlighted strategies to address economic disparities and oppose the administration of President Donald Trump rather than focusing on the historic nature of her candidacy.

Before Election Day, Democratic Governor-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms emphasized the importance of the race. “What we do in this moment will echo through history,” Bottoms said. She also called for unity among voters, stating, “Let’s choose hope over fear, progress over division and come together to build a better Georgia for everyone.”

Following the election outcome, defeated Republican candidate Jackson addressed his supporters. “Tonight, the voters spoke ... and I respect their decision,” Jackson said.

The election outcome defied historical voter hesitation to elect governors from Atlanta, illustrating how population growth in the metropolitan region is altering Georgia’s political landscape.

Along with electing its first Black woman governor, the state re-elected Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, Georgia’s first Jewish senator, who serves alongside Sen. Raphael Warnock, the state’s first Black senator.

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