Bottoms Wins Georgia Governor’s Race, Making History

Bottoms, a former Atlanta mayor and Biden administration official, won the closely watched contest to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. Her victory flips the governor’s office to Democrats for the first time since 1998 and establishes her as Georgia’s first Black woman chosen for statewide constitutional office.

The campaign centered on household costs and the state’s future. Bottoms proposed expanding Medicaid, lowering some taxes and insurance costs, making technical education and community college more accessible, and pausing new data center construction. She also pledged to protect voting rights and sought to connect Jackson to President Donald Trump, whose approval ratings were a campaign issue.

Jackson, a billionaire healthcare executive who largely financed his own campaign, promised tax cuts and said his business background would help create jobs. He criticized Bottoms’ record as Atlanta mayor, including her handling of unrest in 2020. Bottoms argued that Jackson would put Trump’s interests ahead of Georgians’ and highlighted Jackson’s past statements about wanting to be the president’s favorite governor.

Bottoms served as Atlanta mayor from 2018 to 2022 and chose not to seek another term. She received support on the campaign trail from former President Barack Obama and Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, who also won re-election in Georgia. Jackson had defeated Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Trump’s preferred candidate, in the Republican primary.

Bottoms is set to take office in January. As governor, she will shape state policy on health care, taxes and education, among other issues.

Georgia Voters Choose Bottoms’ Affordability Agenda Over Billionaire’s Bid

Georgia voters chose Bottoms’ focus on costs and health care over a Republican campaign powered by a billionaire’s personal fortune. Her win flips the governor’s office to Democrats for the first time since 1998 and breaks a historic barrier for Black women in elected leadership.

Bottoms campaigned on expanding Medicaid, easing costs for families, improving access to education and protecting voting rights. She also proposed pausing new data center construction and lowering certain taxes and insurance costs. Those commitments put the state’s safety net and household budgets at the center of the race.

Jackson, a wealthy healthcare executive who largely bankrolled his campaign, promised tax cuts and job creation. He attacked Bottoms’ record as Atlanta mayor, while Bottoms warned that he would prioritize President Donald Trump over Georgia. Jackson had previously said he wanted to be Trump’s favorite governor, a message Bottoms used against him.

The result gives Democrats control of a state office Republicans had held for more than two decades. Bottoms, who served as Atlanta mayor and later in the Biden administration, is scheduled to take office in January. She has pledged to expand Medicaid and make education more accessible; voters will now look to her administration to deliver on those promises.

Bottoms Wins Georgia Amid Debate Over Taxes, Medicaid and Her Mayoral Record

Bottoms’ win hands Democrats Georgia’s governorship after Republicans held the office for more than two decades. The contest put her plans for Medicaid expansion and new government programs against Jackson’s promises of tax cuts and job creation.

Jackson, a billionaire healthcare executive who largely funded his own campaign, argued that his business experience could help bring jobs to Georgia and pledged to cut the state’s income tax. He also made Bottoms’ record as Atlanta mayor a central issue, criticizing her handling of unrest in 2020.

Bottoms offered a different vision: expanding Medicaid, making technical education and community college more accessible, and reducing costs for families. She also proposed pausing new data center construction. Her victory gives her the opportunity to pursue that agenda, while leaving voters to weigh its costs and consequences.

The campaign also brought national politics into the state race. Bottoms linked Jackson to President Donald Trump, while Jackson had previously embraced the idea of becoming Trump’s favorite governor. Bottoms, a former mayor and Biden administration official, is due to take office in January and will shape policy on health care, taxes and education.