EMILY's List Endorses Keisha Lance Bottoms in Competitive Georgia Governor Race

EMILY's List Endorses Keisha Lance Bottoms

Former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has won the endorsement of EMILY's List, the influential national political organization that supports Democratic women who back abortion rights. The endorsement, announced Thursday, arrives as Bottoms navigates a crowded Democratic primary for governor of Georgia.

Why The Endorsement Matters

EMILY's List's backing can provide significant fundraising, organizing and national visibility — resources that could be decisive in a competitive statewide contest. Georgia has been politically volatile in recent years: Republicans held the governor's office for much of the 21st century, Democrats captured both U.S. Senate seats after 2020, and recent presidential results have kept the state in play.

Bottoms' Background And Campaign

Bottoms served two terms as Atlanta mayor, leading the city through the coronavirus pandemic and the protests that followed George Floyd's murder. She announced in 2021 that she would not seek another term as mayor and later served as a senior adviser in President Joe Biden's White House before launching her gubernatorial campaign in May.

"Donald Trump, he very proudly wears the crown of chaos. So this time around, it's going to be about having this battle-tested leadership, being willing and able to stand up to Donald Trump and the chaos that he's bringing to our communities, but also leading and being innovative in figuring out how we weather this storm," Bottoms said, noting that much of her mayoral tenure overlapped with Mr. Trump's first term.

The Primary Field

Bottoms faces a contested Democratic primary that includes former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan — a former Republican who became a vocal critic of Donald Trump — and former state Sen. Jason Esteves. The Republican Governors Association dismissed Bottoms's bid when she announced, saying the primary looked "disappointing for Georgia Democrats" and calling her policies a risk for the state.

Historical Stakes

If elected, Bottoms would become the first Black woman to be elected governor in U.S. history, a milestone with symbolic and practical significance for both Georgia and national politics.

Political Context

National Democrats view the 2026 midterms as an opportunity to regain ground in Washington and in state capitols. Georgia has seen dramatic shifts: Joe Biden narrowly won the state in 2020, Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock captured Senate seats in runoffs, and recent presidential results have continued to make Georgia a key battleground heading into future election cycles.

EMILY's List President Jessica Mackler said: "She's led Georgians through some of the toughest challenges that people can face in office, and she is the right person to stand up right now and fight back against the chaos that is making lives harder for people in Georgia and deliver that more stable, affordable, everyday life for working families."

The race will test whether national backing and Bottoms' profile can translate into statewide support in a politically competitive environment.