Keisha Lance Bottoms becomes first Black woman elected governor in US

Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms has been elected governor of the US state of Georgia, breaking barriers as the first Black woman to hold such a position in any US state.

The former Atlanta mayor beat out Republican businessman Rick Jackson on Tuesday, ending more than two decades of Republican dominance of Georgia’s governor’s office, media projections indicated, as reported by Reuters.

Bottoms, 56, will also be Georgia’s first female governor, following Republican Brian Kemp, who was term-limited and not able to run again.

Her win represents a first for Black women in US politics and comes after two failed Democratic bids for governor from fellow Democrat Stacey Abrams in 2018 and 2022.

Jackson, the billionaire health care executive, launched the super PAC and poured more than $100 million of his own money into the effort, which earned President Donald Trump’s endorsement.

Barack Obama, who previously was president, stumped for Bottoms. Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff won re-election in Georgia.

Bottoms was mayor of Atlanta from 2018 to 2022 and was also a senior adviser to Joe Biden during his time as president.

Her platform included Medicaid expansion, easing households’ financial burdens and safeguarding the right to vote.