Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) has won the Georgia governor's race, defeating Republican healthcare executive Rick Jackson, according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ). With 71% of the vote counted, Bottoms holds an 11-point lead, marking a historic shift in the Peach State's highest office.
Bottoms, who served as a senior adviser to former President Biden, will become Georgia's first Democratic governor since Roy Barnes left office in 2003. The state had been under Republican control for more than two decades, with outgoing Gov. Brian Kemp term-limited. Before that GOP streak, Democrats had held the governorship for over a century.
The race was widely seen as competitive, with Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball both rating it a "toss-up" as recently as late October. A poll from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the University of Georgia showed Bottoms with a narrow edge over Jackson just days before the election.
Bottoms received a significant boost in the final weeks of the campaign when former President Obama joined her and Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) at a rally in late October. That appearance energized Democratic voters in key metro areas, including Atlanta, where Bottoms previously served as mayor.
For Republicans, the loss is a major setback. President Trump had endorsed Jackson in July, calling him a "true champion for the people" at a rally in Cobb County. However, that endorsement came only after Trump had initially backed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (R), who lost to Jackson in a primary runoff. The split endorsement may have complicated the GOP's message in a state that has become increasingly competitive in recent cycles.
Bottoms' victory also signals a continued realignment in Georgia politics, where demographic shifts and growing suburban diversity have made the state a battleground. Her win, combined with Ossoff's Senate re-election, underscores the Democratic Party's strength in the state.
In other Georgia races, Houston Gaines won the 10th District, succeeding retiring Rep. Doug Collins, while Cowan took the 11th District, replacing Barry Loudermilk. Democrats also held the 13th District, with Clark filling the seat of the late Rep. David Scott.
Bottoms' policy agenda is expected to focus on expanding healthcare access, improving education funding, and addressing infrastructure needs. She has also pledged to protect voting rights, a key issue in a state that has seen contentious election law debates.
Her victory is a bright spot for Democrats in a midterm cycle that has otherwise been challenging, and it could position her as a rising star in national politics.
