Keisha Lance Bottoms brought a message of affordability, protecting voting rights and expanding access to health care to Waycross Saturday, May 16, in her campaign to be the Democrat Party nominee for Georgia governor.
The former Mayor of Atlanta’s stop at the C.C. Stephens Amvets Post 621 before a morning gathering of a few dozen was part of the candidate’s “Our Rights, Our Future” weekend campaign swing. It included Friday stops in Albany, Thomasville and Valdosta, with visits to Savannah and Statesboro after Waycross before ending Sunday in Augusta.
A common thread in her message was the importance of the state’s southern and coastal regions.
“We’ve saved the best for last,” she said of the close of her campaign ahead of Tuesday’s General Primary. “You all matter to me. I can’t ell you I have every answer to every question and problem you’re facing, but I can tell you I will listen to know what you want and you need so when I’m elected governor I know how I can help.”
Bottoms, 56 and Atlanta Mayor in 2018-22, was the overwhelming favorite to win the party’s nomination. In an average of polling last month, she led challenger Michael Thurmond 45.5 percent to 13 percent.
The former practicing attorney also led all those most likely to be the Republican nominee in November’s General Election. The average of the polls for that race last month had her leading both Rick Jackson and Burt Jones, who top GOP polling, by six points (4943). However, her margin was only one point over (45-44) Brad Raffensperger, who’s polling a distant third for the GOP nomination.
Bottoms has been traveling the state leading up to her quest for the governorship since leaving her post as Director of the Office of Public Engagement and a senior advisor to President Joe Biden in 2023 after one year. She said she believes much is lacking all across the state after years of Republican control.
“I know the best this state has to offer and it breaks my heart when I come into a community and see that not everybody is sharing in that,” Bottoms said. “We’re the number one state (in country) to do business in and to not offer that to every single person in this state is really something we should be ashamed of.”
The candidate didn’t limit the criticism to the state. She pointed to cuts in a host of federal programs, particularly those for community service organizations, mental health, veterans and housing, as equally damaging.
“Until we get somebody sane back in Washington with a little knowledge of (these problems), we have to figure out how to fill gaps at state level,” Bottoms said alluding to President Donald Trump. “ ... In this climate, more people are struggling even when they don’t look like it.”
South Georgians often feel their needs are discounted, if not just ignored by lawmakers in Atlanta. Bottoms said her attention to a part of the state that’s a GOP stronghold is for longer than just for the campaign if she succeeds Brian Kemp and becomes the state’s first female and minority chief executive.
“Atlanta is a small part of this state. Everything can’t happen in Atlanta,” she said. “We’re only as strong as our weakest link and we need to strengthen that link. ... (Candidacy) is about us creating a lasting relationship that will help me better lead the state.”
