Keisha Lance Bottoms has made history as the first Black woman elected governor in the United States after defeating Republican billionaire Rick Jackson in Georgia’s gubernatorial election.
The Democratic candidate’s victory also marks the first time since 1998 that Georgia has elected a Democratic governor.
NBC News and CNN projected Bottoms as the winner of Tuesday’s election, ending nearly three decades without a Democrat occupying the state’s governorship.
Her victory comes as Georgia has emerged as a major political battleground, with both parties recording significant electoral successes in recent years.
Former President Joe Biden won Georgia in 2020, while President Donald Trump reclaimed the state for Republicans in 2024 by just over two percentage points. Democrats have also secured victories in recent Senate elections.
The gubernatorial contest became one of the most closely watched races of the 2026 midterm elections after Republican Governor Brian Kemp became ineligible to seek another term due to term limits.
Jackson emerged as the Republican candidate despite not being the original choice of Trump and Kemp. The businessman reportedly spent about $108 million of his personal fortune on his primary campaign against Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones.
After winning the Republican runoff, Jackson aligned himself with Trump and promised to become the president’s “favourite governor”.
However, his personal wealth and support for Trump were not enough to secure victory as Republicans faced a difficult election nationwide.
Bottoms, a mother of four, previously served as mayor of Atlanta, Georgia’s largest city, from 2018 to 2022.
She later joined the Biden administration, serving as a senior adviser to the president.
During her campaign, Bottoms focused on the rising cost of living and promised to prioritise affordable housing and access to healthcare for Georgia residents.
Her campaign also received support from prominent Democrats, including former President Barack Obama, who travelled to Georgia in the final days of the election to campaign alongside her and Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff.
Bottoms’ victory represents a major breakthrough for women and Black Americans in US politics, while giving Democrats control of Georgia’s governorship for the first time in 28 years.
