Keisha Lance Bottoms Announces Governor Run in Georgia

Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms declared her candidacy for governor of Georgia on Monday. In her announcement video shared across social media, she expressed her strong opposition to Donald Trump, recalling how her grandmother always searched for her family. Bottoms posed a poignant question: “Who is looking for us, Georgians?”

She criticized Trump, asserting, “Donald Trump is a disaster for our economy and our country,” mentioning the influence of wealthy individuals on Medicare and Social Security. She lamented that many Georgians have faced job losses, remarking, “It’s one disaster after another.”

“Donald Trump isn’t a laughing matter,” she added, reflecting on lessons from her grandfather. Bottoms emphasized the importance of expanding Medicaid, highlighting that nearly 300,000 Georgians lack health insurance and that nine rural hospitals have been forced to close due to the state’s refusal to broaden Medicaid access. “It’s absurd and must be addressed,” she stated.

As a future governor, she pledged to eliminate state income taxes for teachers and support small businesses by tackling rising rental and housing costs, facilitating pathways for university and career training.

Bottoms, who served as Atlanta’s mayor from 2018 to 2022, enters a competitive race, which may also see Stacey Abrams considering another bid for the governorship. Other potential Republican contenders include Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Lt. Col. Burt Jones.