Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is forming an exploratory committee ahead of a potential run for governor next year. Bottoms was elected mayor of Atlanta in 2017 but decided not to seek reelection four years later. Instead, the Democrat joined the administration of then-President Joe Biden in 2022 as a senior advisor.
Bottoms would join state Sen. Jason Esteves of Atlanta in the 2026 gubernatorial race on the Democratic side. Multiple news outlets have reported that former Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams of Atlanta, a two-time Democratic nominee for governor, also is considering mounting a third bid for the state’s highest office.
The only announced Republican candidate thus far is state Attorney General Chris Carr. Other potential candidates to succeed Kemp include Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.
