Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms was among those stopping in Athens on Wednesday. Bottoms addressed a packed house, discussing her priorities for the state at the 2026 Georgia Chamber Congressional Luncheon. Affordability was one of the top issues, with Bottoms calling for Medicaid expansion in the state to make health care affordable.
“People have asked, well what difference does it make to me, if I don’t have Medicaid? ” according to Bottoms. “Well, when you go on that hunting trip in South Georgia, God forbid if there is an accident, you may be over an hour away from the nearest hospital. If you go to your closest hospital, and that emergency room is overrun with people, that’s because people often don’t have primary care physicians.”
Bottoms also mentioned the need for economic development and affordable housing.
She continued, “Because what’s happening, a lot of corporations or entities are buying up entire stocks of housing. So, it’s making it increasingly difficult, even from the way that they are able to bid on these houses, for that first-time homebuyer to have a competitive chance of buying a house. They are able to drive up the price, and again it creates instability in our communities."
Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson also spoke at the event.
