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Keisha Lance Bottoms makes US history as first Black woman elected governor
Keisha Lance Bottoms has been elected governor of Georgia, becoming the first Black woman elected to lead a US state, according to Associated Press projections. Her victory over Republican Rick Jackson marks a significant milestone and follows a campaign in which she defended her record as Atlanta’s mayor against Republican claims that the city had declined under her leadership.
Jackson, a billionaire, spent more than $200m of his own money in his bid to succeed outgoing governor Brian Kemp. Bottoms, a former adviser to Joe Biden, benefited in part from strong turnout among Georgia’s Black voters during early voting. She is the third Black woman nominated for governor by Georgia Democrats in a row; Stacey Abrams lost to Kemp in 2018 and 2022. Kemp is due to leave office in January after reaching the state’s term limit.
In short
- Bottoms is projected to become the first Black woman governor in the US.
- She defeated Republican Rick Jackson in Georgia.
- Jackson spent more than $200m of his personal fortune.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Bottoms’s election is a historic expansion of political representation, showing that a Black woman can win the state’s highest office after years in which Black women candidates fell short. Supporters may also see her victory as an endorsement of her record and campaign, backed by strong turnout among Black voters.
The case against
Voters who preferred Jackson could reasonably argue that Georgia needs a change in leadership, particularly if they believe Bottoms’s record as Atlanta mayor did not address the city’s problems. They may also favour Jackson’s approach or experience, while viewing his personal spending as a way to bring substantial resources to the campaign.
Explained simply
Georgia is a state in the south-east of the United States. Its governor leads the state government, which is responsible for areas such as education, transport and public safety; governors serve four-year terms.
Atlanta is Georgia’s largest city, and Bottoms was its mayor before becoming an adviser to President Joe Biden. Brian Kemp, the outgoing governor, cannot serve another term because of Georgia’s limit on how long a governor may stay in office.
Bottoms is the third Black woman in a row nominated for governor by Georgia Democrats. Stacey Abrams, the previous nominee, lost to Kemp in 2018 and 2022; Bottoms’s election is a milestone in the history of US state leadership.
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