Keisha Lance Bottoms plans gubernatorial run in Georgia 2026

Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has taken a significant step toward running for Georgia governor in 2026 by filing paperwork to establish a campaign committee, though she has not yet made a formal announcement. Bottoms, a Democrat and former senior adviser to President Joe Biden, expressed gratitude for the encouragement she has received and stated she will make a formal announcement in the coming weeks. Her entry follows the decisions of other high-profile Democrats to pause or forgo campaigns, leaving Bottoms and state Sen. Jason Esteves as the most prominent Democratic contenders so far. On the Republican side, Attorney General Chris Carr has announced his candidacy, with Lt. Gov. Burt Jones also expected to run. Bottoms' tenure as mayor was marked by both praise for her work on social justice and criticism over rising violent crime and pandemic response. The 2026 governor's race is open due to term limits preventing current Governor Brian Kemp from seeking re-election.