Keisha Lance Bottoms Makes History in Georgia Governor Win

GRAND RAPIDS, MI. - Keisha Lance Bottoms made history on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, by winning the Georgia gubernatorial race. She became the state's first Black woman governor and the first Black female governor in the United States, flipping the office to Democrats and ending the Republican Party's 24-year hold on the position.

Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, 56, defeated Republican businessman Rick Jackson in the election. Bottoms, who previously served as Atlanta mayor, secured the top job in Georgia. She later expressed surprise at the margin of victory, stating, "I thought it could be much closer."

The 2026 United States gubernatorial elections occurred on November 3, 2026, across 36 states and three territories. These elections marked the first time since 2006 that Democrats won the majority of governorships. Former Republican Governor Brian Kemp was ineligible to seek a third consecutive term. Stacey Abrams previously made a strong bid for the governorship in 2018.

Bottoms' victory represents a significant political shift, turning Georgia blue. Her win contributes to a historic 2026 midterm election cycle that also saw the election of the nation's first Muslim senator. The new governor's administration will likely address issues such as a potential redistricting fight.