Keisha Lance Bottoms

Why they say you should vote for them

The candidate's own case to voters, summarized from their campaign and public statements.

• Says she is running "to deliver for working families" and bring "steady leadership" amid "chaos coming from Washington."[1],[9]
• Points to her record as Atlanta mayor, saying her administration delivered four balanced budgets without property tax increases, layoffs or furloughs.[2]
• Notes she is the first Atlanta mayor to have served in all three branches of government, as a judge, city council member and mayor.[2]
• Says her agenda would lower costs for families, including health care, housing, child care and groceries.[3]

Background

• Senior Advisor to the President and Director, White House Office of Public Engagement, Biden administration · 2022–2023[8],[2]
• Mayor, City of Atlanta · 2018–2022[8],[9]
• Member, District 11, Atlanta City Council · 2010–2018[8]
• Executive director (during council service), Atlanta-Fulton County Recreation Authority · Beginning 2015[8],[9]
• Magistrate judge, City of Atlanta · Beginning 2002[8]

Education

• B.A., Communications, Florida A&M University[8],[9]
• J.D., Georgia State University College of Law (1994)[8],[9]

Where they stand

• Health Care
  Calls full Medicaid expansion a "day one priority" and would replace the Georgia Pathways program with expanded coverage. Proposes stabilizing rural hospitals, creating a Georgia Rx Savings Board on prescription drug costs, and expanding maternal and mental health care.[3],[6]
• Taxes
  Proposes eliminating the state income tax for public school teachers, targeted tax relief for veterans and military retirees, and letting cities and counties suspend or end local sales taxes on groceries and essentials. Opposes eliminating property taxes and supports letting voters decide on a constitutional amendment to authorize casino gaming as a new revenue source.[4],[3]
• Abortion
  Supports repealing Georgia's 2019 abortion law and restoring the standard that applied under Roe v. Wade, and calls the decision to have an abortion "deeply personal."[5]
• Education
  Proposes fully funding schools and updating the state's school funding formula, universal pre-K and child care, a focus on literacy, and a path to free technical and community college.[3]
• Housing
  Proposes a Georgia Housing Fast Track initiative to speed permitting, expanded down payment and renter assistance, and an affordable housing trust fund.[3]
• Guns
  Supports universal background checks and a red flag law, along with more state investigative support for local law enforcement through the GBI.[3]
• Energy & Environment
  Calls for a statewide pause on developing and building new data centers while officials reassess their economic and community impacts, saying families should not be left with higher utility bills. Proposes investment in flood mitigation and water infrastructure.[7],[3]
• Economy & Jobs
  Supports a statewide $15-an-hour living wage, modeled on Atlanta's pay for city workers, and proposes a state Office of Small Business focused on firms with up to 25 employees.[6],[3]

Voting record

Keisha Lance Bottoms has not held an office with a recorded voting record. See Background and Where they stand.

In their words