Keisha Lance Bottoms won Georgia's governorship
Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, a former Atlanta mayor, won Georgia’s governor’s race Tuesday, becoming the first Black woman elected governor of a U.S. state. She defeated Republican billionaire businessman Rick Jackson, returning the office to Democrats after more than two decades of Republican control. All 83 of Georgia’s previous governors were white men. Bottoms said she would govern for everyone in the state.
More context
Former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms secured Georgia’s governorship Tuesday, making her the first Black woman to lead any U.S. state. Her defeat of Republican billionaire businessman Rick Jackson flipped the key swing state’s governorship back to Democrats after more than two decades of Republican control. Bottoms will also be Georgia’s first governor of color; all 83 of the state’s previous governors were white men.
“Tonight should remind us all that no matter what community we come from, Georgia is not defined by one moment in time or by one person,” Bottoms told supporters. She said she would be “a governor for everyone in this state.”
Elsewhere, Republican Byron Donalds was elected Florida’s first Black governor and Democrat David Crowley Wisconsin’s first. Maryland Governor Wes Moore won reelection.
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Reporting
- France 24 — 2026 Midterms: Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms makes history in Georgia - France 24
- France 24 — Historic leadership firsts for minorities across US in midterm vote
- France 24 — US midterms bring surge of historic firsts for women and members of minority groups - France 24
- astroawani.com — Keisha Lance Bottoms wins Georgia race, becomes first Black woman elected governor of US state
- sarawaktribune.com — Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms Becomes First Black Woman Governor In US
- awazthevoice.in — US midterms: Donalds wins Florida, Bottoms claims Georgia victory
Verifier’s note
France24, Astro Awani, Sarawak Tribune, and Awaz the Voice report Bottoms’s Georgia victory and its historic significance. France24’s latest report also says she was declared the winner, so the results support a current event rather than an older one.