Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is returning to the political spotlight with a new memoir and a fresh campaign for Georgia governor. Her upcoming book, The Rough Side of the Mountain, slated for release in April 2026, promises a deeply personal account of her life and public service—detailing everything from her Atlanta childhood to her tenure leading the city through a global pandemic and national unrest.
Bottoms served as Atlanta’s 60th mayor from 2018 to 2022, overseeing a turbulent period marked by COVID-19 and widespread protests over racial injustice. Before holding the mayor’s office, she was a prosecutor and advocate for children in juvenile court, later serving on the Atlanta City Council. After opting not to seek re-election in 2021, she joined the Biden administration as a senior advisor and served on the President’s Export Council, a role she reportedly left “before she could be fired by President Trump.”
In April, Bottoms officially announced her candidacy for the 2026 Democratic gubernatorial nomination, entering a competitive field that includes Sen. Jason Esteves, Rev. Olu Brown, and Republican Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr.
She launched her campaign in May with a video on social media that highlights her family roots, public service, and vision for Georgia’s future. In the video, Bottoms takes direct aim at former President Donald Trump, calling him “a disaster for our economy and our country.” She criticizes his record on inflation and health care, and opposes Republican efforts to cut Medicare and Social Security.
Bottoms also pledges to expand Medicaid in Georgia—a move Republican governors have long resisted—and to support public servants like teachers, police officers, and firefighters. She promises to address housing affordability by cracking down on “corporate landlords raising prices” and to offer youth “better pathways to college or career training.”
With her memoir in the works and a statewide campaign underway, Bottoms appears to be blending personal reflection with political ambition—positioning herself as a seasoned, values-driven candidate for Georgia’s top job.
