Keisha Lance Bottoms Wins Georgia Governor Race, Making History
Georgia, US
ERIK S. LESSER / AFP via Getty Images/Getty
What Happened
What Happened
Where Sources Disagree
- arrows_outputJackson's Political Identity: While Rick Jackson campaigned as a self-made political outsider, other sources characterize him as a wealthy insider who profited from government contracts through his healthcare business.
- arrows_outputMayoral Record Assessment: Republican campaign ads characterized Bottoms' mayoral tenure as a failure marked by lawlessness and rising crime. In contrast, her campaign and supporters defended the record as a standard term navigated during the difficult challenges of the pandemic and social unrest.
Timeline
November 3, 2026
Historic Firsts and Party Flip: Bottoms became the first Black woman elected governor in U.S. history and Georgia's first woman governor, and her victory returned the governor's office to Democratic control for the first time in more than two decades, breaking the GOP trifecta. These outcomes were highlighted immediately after the race was called.
November 3, 2026
Wins General Election: On Election Day, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated Republican Rick Jackson, with major outlets projecting her victory and CBS and NBC calling the race for her. Her win flipped Georgia's governor's office to Democrats in the 2026 midterm elections.
November 3, 2026
Campaign Spending Disparity: Bottoms ran the general election having raised about $13.3 million and spent $11.4 million, while Republican Rick Jackson poured more than $200 million of his own wealth into the race (Jackson raised/spent figures exceed $210 million). The large financial gap framed the closing weeks of the campaign.
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Timeline
November 3, 2026
Historic Firsts and Party Flip: Bottoms became the first Black woman elected governor in U.S. history and Georgia's first woman governor, and her victory returned the governor's office to Democratic control for the first time in more than two decades, breaking the GOP trifecta. These outcomes were highlighted immediately after the race was called.
November 3, 2026
Wins General Election: On Election Day, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated Republican Rick Jackson, with major outlets projecting her victory and CBS and NBC calling the race for her. Her win flipped Georgia's governor's office to Democrats in the 2026 midterm elections.
November 3, 2026
Campaign Spending Disparity: Bottoms ran the general election having raised about $13.3 million and spent $11.4 million, while Republican Rick Jackson poured more than $200 million of his own wealth into the race (Jackson raised/spent figures exceed $210 million). The large financial gap framed the closing weeks of the campaign.
