Keisha Lance Bottoms elected governor of Georgia

Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has secured victory in the Georgia gubernatorial race, marking a historic milestone as the first Black woman in the United States to hold the position.

During her victory speech in Atlanta on November 3, Bottoms highlighted her personal history in the state, noting that her ancestors were enslaved in Crawfordsville during the mid-1800s. She drew a contrast between the town’s past—notably as the home of Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens—and its role in her current election.

Bottoms stated that while the state has a fraught history, it should not be defined by any single moment or figure. She framed the win as an evolution of the state, emphasizing that Georgia’s identity is shaped by the collective actions of its citizens across generations.