Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is officially entering the 2026 race for Georgia governor, marking her return to electoral politics after stepping away from City Hall three years ago. Bottoms discussed her campaign Wednesday during an appearance on The Breakfast Club, reflecting on her decision to run and the path that led her back to public service.
Bottoms confirmed to 11Alive in May that she planned to seek the governorship, saying she is running to “fight on behalf of families across the state.” From 2018 to 2022, she served as mayor of Atlanta, approving 32,000 building permits totaling $21 billion in new development and securing pay raises for police officers, firefighters, and 911 operators—achievements she now cites as proof of her ability to deliver statewide.
Her decision not to seek reelection in 2021 surprised many. At the time, Bottoms held a 68% approval rating and was viewed as a strong favorite for another term. She told The Breakfast Club she was “misunderstood” by those who questioned her choice to step aside. “It didn’t make sense to people because nobody had ever done it,” she said. “I knew it was very likely that I would win if I ran again.” Ultimately, she said, prioritizing her family was the right choice and one that renewed her readiness for the battles ahead: “Had I not stepped away in that season, I wouldn’t be ready to step back in the ring now.”
Bottoms rolled out her campaign Tuesday morning with a video highlighting her Atlanta upbringing and warning that “most Georgians are right to wonder who’s looking out for us.” She sharply criticizes former President Donald Trump, calling him “a disaster for our economy and our country” and pledging to combat rising costs, expand Medicaid, support first responders and teachers, crack down on corporate landlords, and strengthen career and college pathways for young people.
Bottoms begins her statewide bid after Trump won Georgia last year by two points. A former municipal judge and Atlanta city councilmember, she enters a competitive race to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, framing her campaign around experience, family, and what she calls Georgia’s need for a “new chapter.”
