Keisha Lance Bottoms wins Georgia governor's race, becoming first Black woman to hold post
Bottoms, a former adviser to Joe Biden, defeated Republican Rick Jackson, flipping the seat for Democrats.
Key facts
Story- Keisha Lance Bottoms won Georgia's governor's race, defeating Republican Rick Jackson.
- She is the first Black woman to be elected governor in the United States, according to the reports.
- Her win gives Democrats the Georgia governor's seat for the first time in more than 20 years.
Keisha Lance Bottoms has won the governor's race in Georgia, making her the first Black woman elected to that office in the United States. She beat Republican Rick Jackson in the election, which was held in early November 2026.
Bottoms's win flips the seat for Democrats. Her victory is also the first Democratic win for Georgia's governor's office in more than 20 years.
A campaign built on economic issues
Bottoms focused her campaign on the economy. She pledged to expand Medicaid, the public health insurance programme for low-income Americans, and to raise the state's minimum wage.
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Jackson spent heavily on his campaign and attacked Bottoms's record in office. Despite the spending, he lost the race.
Background
Bottoms formerly advised former US President Joe Biden. Her win comes in a year when the state's top job was contested in a close and expensive race.
For readers in India, the result is a notable marker in US politics. Georgia's policy shifts on health coverage and wages could affect the state's residents directly.
The reports do not yet give details on when Bottoms will take office or on the exact margin of her win.
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