Keisha Lance Bottoms
Democratic · GA
Keisha Lance Bottoms is listed by WABE among the candidates for the 2026 Georgia general-election Governor contest.
Where Keisha Lance Bottoms stands, based on their records
Supports
Environment and Public Health (1 record), Anti-Corruption (2 records), Government Efficiency (1 record),
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 1 support
Signed an executive order requiring masks in public across Atlanta, including Hartsfield-Jackson airport. The order made exceptions for young children, eating, driving and some medical conditions.
July 8, 2020Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: ajc.com
Track record — Anti-Corruption
Anti-Corruption · 2 support
Introduced a package of transparency bills to the Atlanta City Council as mayor. The package created a city transparency officer for open-records compliance, limited use of city credit cards, and set up registration for people who lobby the city.
August 20, 2018Supports Anti-Corruption
Source: atlantaga.gov
Resigned as executive director of the Atlanta-Fulton County Recreation Authority, effective April 14, 2017, while still serving on the city council. Critics had said holding both paid jobs was double-dipping, and she had recused herself from council votes on the authority.
March 23, 2017Supports Anti-Corruption
Source: ajc.com
Track record — Government Efficiency
Government Efficiency · 1 support
As a city councilmember, asked Atlanta's technology managers to study building a single city app so residents could request non-emergency services from a phone.
April 24, 2017Supports Government Efficiency
Source: citycouncil.atlantaga.gov
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 2 support
Ordered Atlanta police to calm situations before using force, days after officers killed Rayshard Brooks. The orders also made officers step in to stop other officers from using excessive force.
June 15, 2020Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: npr.org
Supported Atlanta's stricter panhandling law as a city councilmember; the council passed it 14-0 on October 1, 2012. She said the law was not heartless because judges gained power to send people to social services.
October 1, 2012Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: ajc.com
Track record — Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties · 2 support
Ordered Atlanta police to calm situations before using force, days after officers killed Rayshard Brooks. The orders also made officers step in to stop other officers from using excessive force.
June 15, 2020Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: npr.org
Signed an executive order as mayor telling Atlanta's jail to stop accepting federal immigration detainees. She also asked that the five detainees then held there be moved elsewhere.
September 6, 2018Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: gpb.org
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 1 support
As mayor, issued an administrative order directing Atlanta's chief equity officer to take steps to lessen the effects of Georgia's new voting law (SB 202) on city residents.
April 6, 2021Supports Civil Rights
Source: electionline.org
Track record — General
General · 8 records
Received former President Barack Obama's endorsement for governor in a video message.
October 8, 2026
Source: atlantanewsfirst.com
Her campaign announced endorsements from 32 current and former Georgia law enforcement officials, including sheriffs and district attorneys, for governor.
October 5, 2026
Source: fox5atlanta.com
Was endorsed for governor of Georgia by former United States Attorney General Eric Holder on August 2, 2026. Holder, who founded the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, tied the endorsement to guarding against partisan and racial gerrymanders in Georgia.
August 2, 2026
Source: cbsnews.com
Received the endorsement of former President Joe Biden in the Georgia governor's race.
May 1, 2026
Source: 41nbc.com
Was endorsed for governor of Georgia by EMILYs List, which raises money for Democratic women candidates who support abortion rights, on December 4, 2025.
December 4, 2025
Source: emilyslist.org
Was endorsed for governor of Georgia by Higher Heights for America, a political action committee that supports Black women candidates, on October 21, 2025.
October 21, 2025
Source: higherheightsforamericapac.org
Was appointed White House senior adviser for public engagement by President Joe Biden.
June 15, 2022
Source: presidency.ucsb.edu
Was sued by Georgia's governor over Atlanta's mask requirement and the city's return to stricter coronavirus limits. The governor withdrew the case on August 13, 2020 after settlement talks reached a stalemate, and said he would issue a new state order instead. The mask requirement stayed in place.
July 16, 2020
Source: ajc.com
Track record — Candidate Ethics
Candidate Ethics · 1 record
Agreed to pay a $37,000 state ethics fine over her 2017 mayoral campaign's finances. The campaign admitted taking $6,900 above donation limits and $110,797 more that broke other state rules.
January 7, 2021
Source: wsbtv.com
Past race Keisha Lance Bottoms ran in:
- Governor · November 3, 2026 · Georgia