Keisha Lance Bottoms Becomes First Black Female Governor-Elect

On November 3, 2026, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms won the gubernatorial election in the US state of Georgia, becoming the first elected Black female governor of any US state.

Key Facts

Historic Milestone: Bottoms became the first Black woman in history to be elected governor of any of the 50 US states, as well as the first female governor of Georgia.
The Contest: She defeated Republican nominee and healthcare businessman Rick Jackson.
Prior Experience: She served as the 60th Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, from 2018 to 2022.
Midterm Elections: US elections held at the midpoint of a president’s four-year term are known as Midterm Elections.
Stacey Abrams: In 2018, Stacey Abrams had become the first Black woman in US history to become a major party's gubernatorial nominee.