Keisha Lance Bottoms, a former Atlanta mayor, won the Democratic primary for Georgia governor Tuesday, avoiding a runoff by according to the Associated Press.
Lance Bottoms received almost 58% of the vote after weeks of questions over whether the other top candidates would gain enough votes to push her into a runoff.
The closest candidates were former state Senator Jason Esteves and former state Representative Michael Thurmond, who received 17% and 13% of the vote, respectively.
Her recent major endorsements could have been the thing she needed to push her over the 50% marker for Democratic primary voters and are part of the equation in her strong finish in the election, with an over 40% lead on the next top votegetter.
Just a few weeks before the primary, former President Joe Biden endorsed Lance Bottoms as the Democratic candidate for Georgia governor. At the time of the endorsement, polls showed Lance Bottoms with 39% of the vote.
Avoiding a runoff could have big benefits for the Democrats, giving them a head start on unifying ahead of the November midterms while the Republican candidates wait for the June 16 runoff results to put the party's full support behind one candidate.
The seat has been solidly held by Republicans for over two decades, but this could be the factor that finally gives Democrats enough of a leg-up to flip the seat.
In the Georgia Democrats' X post announcing Lance Bottoms' win, the group called her "battle-tested," a phrase Democrats often use to describe her time as Atlanta mayor during the pandemic.
"Georgia Democrats are united, fired up like never before, and ready to send Keisha to the Governor’s Mansion this November," the post said.
🎉 Huge congratulations to @KeishaForGA, our nominee for governor!
Keisha is a battle-tested leader who will fight to lower costs, expand healthcare, and stand up against Trump’s attacks against our state.
Georgia Democrats are united, fired up like never before, and ready to… pic.twitter.com/71sxuyPoh8
— Georgia Democrats (@GeorgiaDemocrat) May 20, 2026
