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Keisha Lance Bottoms is now the elected-governor for the state of Georgia. Former Atlanta mayor and senior advisor to President Biden was victorious over Rick Jackson, a billionaire CEO of a Georgia-based healthcare staffing company, winning 54.19% of the vote, according to the Associated Press. The 72-year-old businessman—who invested a reported $200 million on the campaign trail—trailed Bottoms, substantially, for much of the Election Day; AP called the election at approximately 9:24 PM EST on Tuesday evening.
“This win is for all of us,” Bottoms told a room full of enthusiastic supporters as she made her acceptance speech.
“This campaign was about every community in every corner of Georgia. It is for the veteran who needs access to healthcare; it’s for the college student who wonders if the cost of their education is worth it; it is for the teenager who’s asked about mental health support. This win is for the caregiver who can’t afford healthcare and needs Georgia to finally expand Medicaid… Georgia, this win is for all of us.”
Bottoms made history as the first Black woman elected governor—not only in the state of Georgia but also in the 250-year history of the United States. The Georgia native shared that on pre-election day, she had traveled 90 miles east of Atlanta, to Crawfordville, a small city with a population of barely 500 people, to honor her ancestors who were born enslaved.
“Yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit Crawfordville, Georgia, the town where my family traces its roots for at least five generations,” Bottoms told the crowd.
“I visited the grave of Betsy Peak, my great-great-grandmother who was born in 1845, 20 years before emancipation… I don’t know what dreams Betsy Peak had for her children or for her grandchildren or the generations that she would never meet, but I know I am standing on shoulders made of steel. So yes, Crawfordville produced the Confederacy’s vice president, but tonight it also produced your next governor.”
Bottoms is among several African Americans who were voted into US history Nov. 3:
- Jasmine Clark, the first Black PhD scientist to serve Congress, will represent Georgia’s 13th Congressional District.
- Julianna Stratton, representing the state of Illinois is the fifth Black Woman elected to the US Senate.
- Stacey Plaskett became the first woman elected governor of the US Virgin Islands.
- Hakeem Jeffries is on track to become the first Black speaker of the House.
- David Crowley will be the first Black person elected governor of Wisconsin in the state’s 178-year history.
- Byron Donald makes history as the first Black republican elected governor of Florida state.
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