Georgia Elects Its First Woman and First Black Governor

Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms has been elected governor of Georgia, defeating Republican Rick Jackson in one of the most closely watched races of the 2026 midterm elections.

The former Atlanta mayor will be the first woman and the first Black person to serve as governor of Georgia. She will also be the first Black woman to serve as governor of any state in U.S. history. NBC News and CBS News projected her victory on election night, and the Associated Press also called the race.

A Shift in Georgia’s Governor’s Office

Bottoms will succeed Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who was barred by state law from seeking a third consecutive term. Her win marks the first time Georgia voters have elected a Democratic governor since 1998, flipping control of the office for the first time in 24 years.

While Georgia has become a key battleground in federal elections in recent years, Republicans had held the governor’s office for more than two decades. The outcome also ends unified Republican control of state government in Georgia.

Bottoms defeated Jackson, a healthcare executive, along with Libertarian candidate Chase Oliver. She is expected to take office in January.

Who Is Keisha Lance Bottoms?

Bottoms served as mayor of Atlanta and later worked as a senior adviser in the Biden administration. Before entering politics, she worked as a prosecutor and served on the Atlanta City Council.

She won the Democratic nomination in May with more than 50% of the primary vote, avoiding a runoff in a field of seven candidates.

During the general election campaign, Bottoms focused on issues like expanding access to health care, lowering costs for families, protecting voting rights and improving economic opportunities. A descendant of enslaved Georgians, she rarely spoke explicitly about the historic nature of her candidacy on the campaign trail.

A Costly Campaign

Jackson, a healthcare CEO and first-time candidate, announced his campaign in February 2026 and invested heavily in the race. He spent more than $200 million on his bid for governor, much of it his own money. His self-funding during the primary was the largest amount any candidate had spent in a Georgia governor’s primary.

Polls in the final days before the election showed a close contest, and outside groups supporting Jackson spent heavily on advertising in the general election. Bottoms was outspent but drew support from a coordinated Democratic campaign that included Sen. Jon Ossoff, who held joint rallies with her across the state.

A Night of Firsts in Georgia

Bottoms’ election is part of a broader set of milestones in Georgia politics. Ossoff, the state’s first Jewish senator, also won reelection on Tuesday and will continue serving alongside Sen. Raphael Warnock, Georgia’s first Black senator.

Bottoms was one of eight Black major-party nominees for governor on ballots nationwide this year. Only three Black governors had previously been elected in U.S. history, all of them men.

What Happens Next

Official results are still being finalized, and the race won’t be official until state election officials certify the results. Bottoms is scheduled to be sworn in as governor in January, when she will begin working with a state legislature that has been under Republican control.

As Georgia continues to draw national attention as a political battleground, the shift in the governor’s office is likely to shape debates over the state’s policies on health care, voting and the economy in the years ahead.

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