Keisha Lance Bottoms wins Georgia governor race

Keisha Lance Bottoms won Georgia’s governor race, defeating Republican Rick Jackson in the state’s November 2026 election.

Her victory makes her the first Black woman elected governor in the United States.

It also gives Democrats Georgia’s governorship for the first time in more than 20 years, after Republicans held the office and controlled state government.

Bottoms, a former mayor of Atlanta, campaigned on lowering costs and expanding Medicaid, which would need approval from the legislature.

She also proposed letting local governments remove sales tax on groceries and backing a pause on new data center construction.

Republicans are likely to retain a majority in at least one legislative chamber, which could complicate her plans.

Bottoms has said she will stand up to the Trump administration, and her proposals will face decisions by the state legislature.