In battleground Georgia, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms faces a large money drawback within the race to switch term-limited Brian Kemp as governor. However lower than two weeks out from Election Day, she’s assured in her possibilities.
“My opponent has put over $100 million of his personal cash on this race. And this race remains to be tied,” Bottoms mentioned in an interview with ABC Information’ Linsey Davis that aired Thursday.
Bottoms’ Republican opponent within the race, Rick Jackson, is a healthcare govt and billionaire.
Democratic candidate for Georgia Governor Keisha Lance Bottoms speaks at a marketing campaign occasion on Oct. 17, 2026, in Marietta, Georgia.
Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Pictures
“I’ve mentioned repeatedly over the course of this marketing campaign: he has the cash, however the individuals nonetheless have the facility,” Bottoms added.
A ballot launched Tuesday by the Atlanta Journal-Structure reveals this 12 months’s governor’s race statistically tied, with 46% of seemingly voters supporting Jackson, and 45% saying they’re backing Bottoms.
Georgia hasn’t elected a Democrat for governor since 1998.
Georgia Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson speaks throughout a marketing campaign occasion, Sept. 28, 2026, in Forsyth, Ga.
Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Pictures
Jackson declined ABC Information’ request for an interview.
In an announcement, Jackson marketing campaign spokesperson Garrison Douglas mentioned: “As Rick travels throughout the state, partaking with voters immediately and answering their questions, our marketing campaign has been working an historic floor sport operation alongside our media technique.”
The assertion added: “Rick Jackson isn’t letting up, refusing to be outworked by anybody, and is dedicated to sharing his story and imaginative and prescient with Georgians every single day.”
Suspending the grocery tax
Bottoms spoke about her plans to deal with affordability, which she says she “did not want a polling supply to inform me.”
Along with suspending taxes on gadgets like diapers and female hygiene merchandise and funding an reasonably priced housing belief fund for the state, Bottoms detailed a “grocery tax aid plan.”
“It will give native governments the power to droop or finish the grocery tax, as a result of they’re collected by native governments,” Bottoms mentioned.
Bottoms additionally mentioned that as governor, she would rise up towards the Trump administration’s Immigrations and Customs Enforcement insurance policies and cuts to federal businesses just like the Division of Veterans Affairs and the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
‘I accomplished the four-year time period that I used to be elected to serve’
Lots of the assaults on Bottoms from her political opponents stem from her time as mayor of Atlanta.
On this June 17, 2019, file picture, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms speaks onstage throughout the Metropolis of Hope – Sylvia Rhone Spirit Of Life Kickoff Breakfast at St. Regis Buckhead in Atlanta, Georgia.
Marcus Ingram/Getty Pictures for Metropolis Of Hope, FILE
Bottoms selected to not run for reelection in 2021 after a tumultuous first time period through which she confronted criticism over her dealing with of COVID-19 and metropolis crime.
“Keisha Lance Bottoms had her probability to guide. The outcomes have been disastrous,” Jackson mentioned at a rally with President Trump in Dalton, Georgia final week.
“Unhealthy mayors do not make good governors,” Jackson instructed the gang.
Bottoms locations the blame for an increase in crime charges on the pandemic.
“Simply earlier than issues shut down — which, we did not shut down very lengthy in Georgia — I used to be touting a discount in crime in our metropolis,” Bottoms instructed ABC.
“Then there was the pandemic, after which the governor made the choice to reopen Georgia … So, our numbers went up, and we began seeing the pattern earlier than many different cities noticed it.”
Voters wait in line to take part in early voting, which incorporates midterm races for governor and a US Senate seat, at a polling place on the Sandy Springs public library in Atlanta, Georgia, Oct. 14, 2026.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
In line with information evaluation from the Atlanta Journal-Structure, violent crime elevated by 59% in Atlanta from 2019 to 2020, in comparison with a rise of 33% in different cities throughout that point interval.
Bottoms additionally responded to criticism she’s acquired for not looking for reelection throughout the tough time for town.
“I accomplished the four-year time period that I used to be elected to serve,” Bottoms mentioned, calling the choice to not run once more in 2021 “deeply private.”
“I had two youngsters in elementary faculty, one in center faculty, one in highschool … And I used to be experiencing a variety of well being points I would by no means talked about publicly,” mentioned Bottoms.
“If I am going to mattress like my daddy did and I do not get up, the place do I wish to spend these 4 years? And for me, it was desirous to be the very best model of myself for my household. In order that’s very completely different than quitting,” she added.
Could be the first Black girl governor in US
If elected in November, Bottoms would develop into the primary Black girl governor in U.S. historical past.
She would even be the primary girl and the primary Black individual elected governor in Georgia.
“My household goes again no less than 5 generations in Georgia… I am a descendant of slaves on either side,” Bottoms mentioned, calling the potential milestone “way more private” for her.
