Keisha Lance Bottoms

Keisha Lance Bottoms recalls getting a call about adopting twins while she and her husband, Derek, waited in line for a show in Times Square.¹ The couple adopted all four of their children after years of infertility.¹ She grew up in Atlanta, the daughter of R&B singer Major Lance.²

She graduated from Florida A&M and earned her law degree at Georgia State.³ She worked as a lawyer, judge and Atlanta city council member before becoming mayor in 2018.⁴² After leaving City Hall in 2022, she became President Biden's senior adviser for public engagement, overseeing the White House office responsible for relationships with community leaders and organizations.⁵

As mayor, she signed a 2018 ordinance ending required cash bonds for many city ordinance violations, with exceptions for violent or repeat offenders.⁶ A 2024 state law subsequently superseded that city policy.⁷ She also signed an October 2018 measure authorizing a 30% pay increase for Atlanta police officers.⁸⁹

Her gubernatorial platform promises full Medicaid expansion, universal preschool and authority for local governments to suspend grocery sales taxes.¹⁰ She also proposes eliminating state income taxes for educators and expanding housing assistance.¹⁰ On foster care, she promises to address caseworker workloads and adoption barriers.¹¹ She faces Republican Rick Jackson on November 3, with Brian Kemp unable to seek another consecutive term.²