Former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has been endorsed by EMILYs List, the influential national group that supports Democratic women who back abortion rights, the organization announced Thursday. The endorsement arrives as Bottoms competes in a crowded Democratic primary for Georgia governor.
Bottoms, who led Atlanta through the coronavirus pandemic and the protests that followed George Floyd’s murder, announced in 2021 that she would not seek another term as mayor. She later served as a senior adviser in the Biden White House and launched her gubernatorial campaign in May.
EMILYs List President Jessica Mackler praised Bottoms’ leadership, saying she has guided Georgians through difficult challenges and is prepared to “stand up” and deliver stability and economic relief for working families. If elected, Bottoms would be the first Black woman elected governor in U.S. history.
The Democratic primary field includes former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, a onetime Republican who broke with Donald Trump, and former state Sen. Jason Esteves. Georgia Republicans have held the governor’s office for most of the 21st century; the Republican Governors Association dismissed Bottoms’ bid as a risky choice for the state.
Bottoms has criticized former President Trump’s influence on politics, saying he “wears the crown of chaos” and arguing that voters need experienced leaders able to confront that turmoil while finding practical solutions for communities.
Democrats see possible opportunity in next year’s midterms after a series of recent wins in Georgia: Joe Biden narrowly carried the state in 2020, and Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock won U.S. Senate seats in runoffs that year. Warnock later won a full term in 2022. Still, Democrat Stacey Abrams fell short against Republican Brian Kemp in the 2018 governor’s race, and Trump carried Georgia in 2024, underscoring the state’s competitive and unpredictable politics.
Bottoms emphasized the need to stay focused and listen to voters as Democrats try to capitalize on any anti-Trump sentiment and regain momentum at both the state and national levels.
