Keisha Lance Bottoms

Keisha Lance Bottoms

Democratic

Keisha Lance Bottoms is the former mayor of Atlanta and a Democratic candidate for governor in 2026. She has said her campaign will focus on affordability, Medicaid expansion, teacher pay, and limiting the influence of corporate landlords, while highlighting her experience in city government and the Biden administration.

Positions on Key Issues

Healthcare

medium

Bottoms’ campaign says she would expand Medicaid and improve access to care for working families.

Economy

high

Bottoms says she would focus on affordability, housing costs, and support for working families, and her campaign points to her record in Atlanta on economic development.

Climate/Energy

low

Bottoms’ campaign materials reviewed here do not include a detailed climate or energy plan.

Abortion & Reproductive Health

medium

Bottoms is running as a Democrat aligned with protecting reproductive rights and opposing Georgia’s abortion restrictions, though the reviewed campaign page does not spell out a detailed abortion policy.

Immigration

low

Bottoms has not been found in the reviewed sources laying out a detailed immigration platform.

Firearms & Second Amendment

medium

Bottoms has publicly tied gun violence to public safety and has criticized permissive gun policies, including open-carry laws.

Foreign Policy

low

Bottoms’ reviewed campaign sources do not present a specific foreign policy agenda.

Civil Rights & Equality

high

Bottoms presents herself as a candidate focused on equity, civil rights, and criminal-justice reform.

Education

high

Bottoms says she will invest in education, expand pathways to college and career training, and support teachers.

Tech & AI

low

No specific, detailed AI policy was found in the reviewed campaign materials.

Election Policy

medium

Bottoms has criticized election-obsession politics and emphasized moving past the 2020 election fight, but the reviewed sources do not show a detailed election-reform agenda.

Local Issues

medium

Bottoms’ campaign emphasizes affordability, jobs, housing costs, and household bills rather than a detailed local-government reform agenda.

Background

Career History

Mayor 2018 – 2022
City of Atlanta

Led Atlanta during the pandemic and other major city crises.

Atlanta City Councilmember 2010 – 2017
City of Atlanta

Served on the city council before becoming mayor.

Senior adviser 2022 – 2023
White House

Served as a senior adviser to President Joe Biden.

Attorney 1994 – 2010
Private practice

Worked as an attorney before entering elected office.

Education

Florida A&M University Bachelor's degree in journalism (1991)
Georgia State University Juris Doctor in law (1994)

Data Analysis Information

Data compiled from public sources and analyzed using AI. Last updated 4/6/2026. Visit candidate websites for the most current information.

© 2026 Smarter.vote. Analyzing public information to help voters make informed decisions.

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