Latest news with #Atlantan
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former ATL mayor announces run for GA governor
ATLANTA, Ga. (WSAV) — Former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has officially thrown her hat into Georgia's 2026 race for Governor, Monday. Bottoms was the Mayor of Atlanta from 2018 to 2022 before deciding against running for re-election. She was then joined the Biden administration as director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. The Democrat and early supporter of former President Joe Biden spoke with WSAV News 3's Andrew Davis via Zoom Monday. 'There's a lot of uncertainty and chaos that's coming out of Washington, D.C.,' Bottoms told Davis. 'And people are looking for a leader who's willing to fight and deliver for them. And after the November election, I made the decision that I wanted to present myself for service and work to earn the trust and support of people across the state.' Bottoms says expanding and improving Medicaid coverage in Georgia is her highest campaign priority. 'We fight tooth and nail to beat Alabama and LSU in football, but we're losing to Alabama and Louisiana when it comes to health care coverage. They've both expanded Medicaid, where only one of nine states in the country that's not expanded Medicaid. That means that 300,000 Georgians don't have coverage. Nine rural hospitals have closed across the state because we've not expanded Medicaid. It's cost our state $710 million because we've not expanded Medicaid. That transcends party lines. It's about having access to quality health care in our communities.' So far, Bottoms faces competition from fellow Atlantan and state Democratic Sen. Jason Esteves, a lawyer and business owner. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr has announced his run on the Republican side. More candidates are expected to announce their intent to run for governor in the near future. You can see Andrew's interview with Bottoms on Tuesday on News 3 beginning with Coastal Sunrise. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Georgia governor's race draws the former mayor of Atlanta, Keisha Lance Bottoms
ATLANTA () — Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms filed papers Monday to raise money for a 2026 run for Georgia governor. Bottoms, a Democrat who broke Atlanta tradition by not seeking an expected second term as mayor, says she'll hold an official announcement of her campaign later. But she has repeatedly signaled that she's entering the race. As an early supporter of former President Joe Biden, she was among the Black women considered to be his running mate. She left the mayor's office in 2022 after a tense end to her term and became a CNN commentator before joining the Biden administration as director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. 'I am honored and humbled by the encouragement I have received as I have considered running for governor,' Bottoms said in a statement. So far, Bottoms faces competition from fellow Atlantan and state Democratic Sen. Jason Esteves, a lawyer and business owner with much less name recognition, in a race to replace that state's popular term-limited Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. Two other high-profile Democrats — U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath and 2014 governor nominee Jason Carter — have said they aren't running, creating uncertainty over who will emerge as a top contender. Bottoms thus far has mostly cast her interest in the governor's race in terms of opposition to President Donald Trump. In a statement earlier this month, she said Georgia needs 'leaders who aren't blindly following Trump off of a moral and economic cliff but are focused on the pressing needs in our communities.' Former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond has also expressed interest in running for governor as a Democrat, and two-time nominee Stacey Abrams could choose to run again. Republican Attorney General Chris Carr announced his run for governor last year and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is expected to announce his candidacy. Bottoms' surprise decision not to run for reelection as mayor in 2021 came amid a spike in homicides during the COVID-19 pandemic and nationwide protests over police brutality after George Floyd, a Black man, was murdered by a white police officer in Minneapolis a year earlier. Bottoms won national praise at the time for ordering protestors to 'go home' alongside Atlanta hip-hop stars Killer Mike and T.I. but added that as a mother of Black sons, she empathized with people angry about police violence. She promised to review Atlanta's policing policies. Meanwhile, Trump and the governor bashed her for COVID-19 and public safety policies and Buckhead, Atlanta's wealthiest and whitest neighborhood, tried to secede from the poorer, Blacker remainder of the city. Weeks after Floyd's death, Rayshard Brooks, a Black man, was killed by an Atlanta police officer after a struggle following a field sobriety test. Atlanta's police chief resigned hours later. Brooks' killing sparked renewed protests in the city. Early in her term, Bottoms eliminated cash bail in Atlanta and ended the city jail's relationship with federal immigration enforcement agencies along with other city mayors in the wake of Trump's harsh immigration policies during his first term. Her tenure as mayor began under the shadow of a federal investigation into corruption during the administration of her predecessor, Kasim Reed. And just a couple of months into her time in office a devastating cyberattack compromised the city's computer network. Bottoms helped negotiate a long-term downtown redevelopment project, although Amazon chose to build its second headquarters in northern Virginia instead of Atlanta. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hamilton Spectator
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Georgia governor's race draws the former mayor of Atlanta, Keisha Lance Bottoms
ATLANTA (AP) — Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms filed papers Monday to raise money for a 2026 run for Georgia governor. Bottoms, a Democrat who broke Atlanta tradition by not seeking an expected second term as mayor , says she'll hold an official announcement of her campaign later. But she has repeatedly signaled that she's entering the race. As an early supporter of former President Joe Biden, she was among the Black women considered to be his running mate. She left the mayor's office in 2022 after a tense end to her term and became a CNN commentator before joining the Biden administration as director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. 'I am honored and humbled by the encouragement I have received as I have considered running for governor,' Bottoms said in a statement. So far, Bottoms faces competition from fellow Atlantan and state Democratic Sen. Jason Esteves , a lawyer and business owner with much less name recognition, in a race to replace that state's popular term-limited Republican Gov. Brian Kemp . Two other high-profile Democrats — U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath and 2014 governor nominee Jason Carter — have said they aren't running, creating uncertainty over who will emerge as a top contender. Bottoms thus far has mostly cast her interest in the governor's race in terms of opposition to President Donald Trump. In a statement earlier this month, she said Georgia needs 'leaders who aren't blindly following Trump off of a moral and economic cliff but are focused on the pressing needs in our communities.' Former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond has also expressed interest in running for governor as a Democrat, and two-time nominee Stacey Abrams could choose to run again. Republican Attorney General Chris Carr announced his run for governor last year and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is expected to announce his candidacy. Bottoms' surprise decision not to run for reelection as mayor in 2021 came amid a spike in homicides during the COVID-19 pandemic and nationwide protests over police brutality after George Floyd , a Black man, was murdered by a white police officer in Minneapolis a year earlier. Bottoms won national praise at the time for ordering protestors to 'go home' alongside Atlanta hip-hop stars Killer Mike and T.I. but added that as a mother of Black sons, she empathized with people angry about police violence. She promised to review Atlanta's policing policies. Meanwhile, Trump and the governor bashed her for COVID-19 and public safety policies and Buckhead, Atlanta's wealthiest and whitest neighborhood, tried to secede from the poorer, Blacker remainder of the city. Weeks after Floyd's death, Rayshard Brooks , a Black man, was killed by an Atlanta police officer after a struggle following a field sobriety test. Atlanta's police chief resigned hours later. Brooks' killing sparked renewed protests in the city. Early in her term, Bottoms eliminated cash bail in Atlanta and ended the city jail's relationship with federal immigration enforcement agencies along with other city mayors in the wake of Trump's harsh immigration policies during his first term. Her tenure as mayor began under the shadow of a federal investigation into corruption during the administration of her predecessor, Kasim Reed. And just a couple of months into her time in office a devastating cyberattack compromised the city's computer network. Bottoms helped negotiate a long-term downtown redevelopment project, although Amazon chose to build its second headquarters in northern Virginia instead of Atlanta.
Hamilton Spectator
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Georgia governor's race draws the ex-mayor of Atlanta, Keisha Lance Bottoms
ATLANTA (AP) — Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms took a big step Monday toward running for governor of Georgia in 2026, about four years after the Democrat broke Atlanta tradition by skipping a second mayoral run. Although she hasn't officially announced she's entered the race, Bottoms filed the necessary paperwork Monday to raise money to campaign for governor and has repeatedly signaled she's interested. Two other high-profile potential candidates have decided not to run, creating uncertainty over who will emerge as a top contender. As one of former President Joe Biden's early supporters, she was among the Black women considered to be his running mate. She left the mayor's office in 2022 after a tense end to her term and became a CNN commentator before joining the Biden administration as director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. 'I am honored and humbled by the encouragement I have received as I have considered running for Governor,' Bottoms said in a statement. So far, Bottoms faces competition from fellow Atlantan and state Democratic Sen. Jason Esteves, a lawyer and business owner with much less name recognition, in a race to replace that state's popular term-limited Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. Her surprise decision not to run for reelection as mayor came amid a spike in homicides during the COVID-19 pandemic and protests over police brutality in 2020 after George Floyd , a Black man, was murdered by a white police officer in Minneapolis. Bottoms amassed national praise for ordering protestors to 'go home' alongside Atlanta hip-hop stars Killer Mike and T.I. but added that as a mother of Black sons, she empathized with people angry about police violence. She promised to review Atlanta's policing policies. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump and Kemp bashed her for COVID-19 and public safety policies and Buckhead, Atlanta's wealthiest and whiter neighborhood, tried to secede from the majority Black city. Weeks after Floyd's death, Rayshard Brooks , a Black man, was killed by an Atlanta police officer after a struggle following a field sobriety test. Atlanta's police chief resigned hours after Brooks' killing, which sparked renewed protests in the city. Former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond has also expressed interest in running for governor as a Democrat, and two-time nominee Stacey Abrams could choose to run again. Republican Attorney General Chris Carr announced his run for governor last year and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is expected to announce his candidacy. Early in her term, Bottoms eliminated cash bail in Atlanta and ended the city jail's relationship with federal immigration enforcement agencies along with other city mayors in the wake of Trump's harsh immigration policies during his first term. Her tenure as mayor began under the shadow of a federal investigation into corruption during the administration of her predecessor, Kasim Reed. And just a couple of months into her time in office a devastating cyberattack compromised the city's computer network. Bottoms helped negotiate a long-term downtown redevelopment project, although Amazon chose to build its second headquarters in northern Virginia instead of Atlanta.
Toronto Star
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Georgia governor's race draws the ex-mayor of Atlanta, Keisha Lance Bottoms
ATLANTA (AP) — Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms took a big step Monday toward running for governor of Georgia in 2026, about four years after the Democrat broke Atlanta tradition by skipping a second mayoral run. Although she hasn't officially announced she's entered the race, Bottoms filed the necessary paperwork Monday to raise money to campaign for governor and has repeatedly signaled she's interested. Two other high-profile potential candidates have decided not to run, creating uncertainty over who will emerge as a top contender. As one of former President Joe Biden's early supporters, she was among the Black women considered to be his running mate. She left the mayor's office in 2022 after a tense end to her term and became a CNN commentator before joining the Biden administration as director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'I am honored and humbled by the encouragement I have received as I have considered running for Governor,' Bottoms said in a statement. So far, Bottoms faces competition from fellow Atlantan and state Democratic Sen. Jason Esteves, a lawyer and business owner with much less name recognition, in a race to replace that state's popular term-limited Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. Her surprise decision not to run for reelection as mayor came amid a spike in homicides during the COVID-19 pandemic and protests over police brutality in 2020 after George Floyd, a Black man, was murdered by a white police officer in Minneapolis. Bottoms amassed national praise for ordering protestors to 'go home' alongside Atlanta hip-hop stars Killer Mike and T.I. but added that as a mother of Black sons, she empathized with people angry about police violence. She promised to review Atlanta's policing policies. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump and Kemp bashed her for COVID-19 and public safety policies and Buckhead, Atlanta's wealthiest and whiter neighborhood, tried to secede from the majority Black city. Weeks after Floyd's death, Rayshard Brooks, a Black man, was killed by an Atlanta police officer after a struggle following a field sobriety test. Atlanta's police chief resigned hours after Brooks' killing, which sparked renewed protests in the city. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond has also expressed interest in running for governor as a Democrat, and two-time nominee Stacey Abrams could choose to run again. Republican Attorney General Chris Carr announced his run for governor last year and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is expected to announce his candidacy. Early in her term, Bottoms eliminated cash bail in Atlanta and ended the city jail's relationship with federal immigration enforcement agencies along with other city mayors in the wake of Trump's harsh immigration policies during his first term. Her tenure as mayor began under the shadow of a federal investigation into corruption during the administration of her predecessor, Kasim Reed. And just a couple of months into her time in office a devastating cyberattack compromised the city's computer network. Bottoms helped negotiate a long-term downtown redevelopment project, although Amazon chose to build its second headquarters in northern Virginia instead of Atlanta. Read more on the U.S. Election at
