04.11.2026 05:40
In the midterm elections held on November 3 in the US, Democratic Party candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms won the gubernatorial race in the state of Georgia. Defeating her Republican rival, billionaire businessman Rick Jackson, Bottoms became the first Black woman elected governor in US history. With Bottoms' victory, the governorship in Georgia passed from Republicans to Democrats after 24 years.
In the gubernatorial elections held in the US alongside the congressional midterm elections, the state of Georgia witnessed a historic result. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms won the elections in the state that Republicans had governed for many years, making history in the country's political history.
SHE BECAME THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN GOVERNOR IN THE US
According to the election results announced by the Associated Press (AP), Democratic Party candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated her Republican rival, billionaire businessman Rick Jackson, and was elected the new governor of Georgia.
With this result, 56-year-old Bottoms earned the title of the first Black woman elected governor in US history. She also went down in the records as the first woman and first Black governor of the state of Georgia.
DEMOCRATIC VICTORY IN GEORGIA AFTER 24 YEARS
With Bottoms winning the elections, the governorship in Georgia, which had been held by Republicans since 2002, passed to the Democratic Party.
In the state, where incumbent Republican Governor Brian Kemp could not run again because he reached the two-term limit, the Democrats won the gubernatorial election for the first time after 24 years.
The last Democrat to assume the governorship in Georgia was Roy Barnes; Barnes was defeated by Republican Sonny Perdue in the 2002 elections.
FROM MAYOR OF ATLANTA TO GOVERNORSHIP
Bottoms, who also served as a member of the Atlanta City Council in her political career, served as mayor of Atlanta, Georgia's largest city, between 2018 and 2022.
After her mayoralty, Bottoms served as a senior adviser at the White House in the administration of former US President Joe Biden, and returned to the political arena in the gubernatorial elections.
In her election campaign, she focused on promises such as expanding access to healthcare, lowering the cost of living, improving teachers' economic conditions, and increasing affordable housing opportunities.
SHE DEFEATED HER REPUBLICAN BILLIONAIRE RIVAL
Republican candidate Rick Jackson, whom Bottoms defeated, entered the election race as a billionaire businessman known for his investments in the healthcare sector.
Jackson, who allocated more than $200 million from his personal wealth to his election campaign, presented himself to voters with promises of economic growth, increased employment, and tax cuts.
Jackson, who attended joint rallies with US President Donald Trump during the election campaign, aimed to maintain the Republicans' 24-year dominance in the Georgia governorship. However, Democrat Bottoms emerged victorious from the elections.