{"id":2604806,"date":"2026-05-19T23:26:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T03:26:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/georgia-gubernatorial-hopeful-keisha-lance-bottoms-avoids-runoff-wins-democratic-primary\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T23:26:53","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T03:26:53","slug":"georgia-gubernatorial-hopeful-keisha-lance-bottoms-avoids-runoff-wins-democratic-primary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/georgia-gubernatorial-hopeful-keisha-lance-bottoms-avoids-runoff-wins-democratic-primary\/","title":{"rendered":"Georgia gubernatorial hopeful Keisha Lance Bottoms avoids runoff, wins Democratic primary"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgeorgia-gubernatorial-hopeful-keisha-lance-bottoms-avoids-runoff-wins-democratic-primary%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2604806&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/no-spike-in-florida-coronavirus-cases-despite-no-mask-mandate\/\" title=\"No Spike in Florida Coronavirus Cases Despite No Mask Mandate\">mayor<\/a> of Atlanta, has won Georgia\u2019s Democratic nomination for governor, avoiding a runoff and positioning her to face the Republican candidate in November. The Associated Press called the race at 10:30 p.m.: with 67% of ballots counted, Bottoms led with 57.6% versus Jason Esteves\u2019s 16.7%.<\/p>\n<p>On the GOP side,Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and businessman Rick Jackson advanced to a June 16 runoff after neither secured a majority, with Jones at 36.8% and Jackson at 34.7% as of 33% of ballots counted.  <\/p>\n<p>Bottoms\u2019s win came after a crowded primary in which polling had strongly favored her, and her opponents have criticized her mayoral record, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >including issues tied<\/a> to the COVID-era period and unrest during her tenure, as well as her work as a senior adviser to President Joe Biden.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>Former <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/atlanta\" type=\"link\" id=\"washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/atlanta\">Atlanta<\/a> Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has won the Democratic nomination in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/georgia\" type=\"link\" id=\"washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/georgia\">Georgia<\/a>\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ga-republicans-launch-stop-stacey-effort-ahead-of-possible-abrams-2022-announcement\/\" title=\"GA Republicans Launch \u2018Stop Stacey\u2019 Effort Ahead Of Possible Abrams 2022 Announcement\">gubernatorial race<\/a>, becoming the party\u2019s standard-bearer as it looks to flip the governor\u2019s mansion in November.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Associated Press<\/em> called the race for Bottoms at 10:30 p.m. With 67% of ballots counted, 56-year-old Bottoms held 57.6% of the vote, compared to second<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/reading-the-tea-leaves-who-do-conservatives-want-for-2024\/\" title=\"Reading the Tea Leaves: Who Do Conservatives Want for 2024?\">-place finisher<\/a>, 42-year-old former Georgia state Sen. Jason Esteves, who earned 16.7%.<\/p>\n<p>Bottoms\u2019s outright victory means she escapes a runoff election and will face the Republican candidate in the November general election for the opportunity to succeed Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA), who is term-limited. <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/georgia\/\">Georgia<\/a> GOP gubernatorial hopefuls Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and businessman Rick Jackson are advancing to a June 16 runoff election, after neither candidate secured the majority needed to win outright on Tuesday. The <em>Associated Press<\/em> called the race at 8:38 p.m. With 33% of ballots counted, Jones received 36.8% of the vote, while Jackson earned 34.7%.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4575674\/tuberville-doug-jones-rematch-alabama-governor\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Tommy Tuberville and Doug Jones set to face off in Alabama governor\u2019s race<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4573623\/josh-shapiro-stacy-garrity-pennsylvania-governor-showdown\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Josh Shapiro and Stacy Garrity brace for bruising Pennsylvania gubernatorial showdown<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4574949\/dc-police-union-janeese-lewis-george-leverage-pension-housing\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DC Police Union hits Janeese Lewis George over proposal to leverage pension funds for housing push<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Meanwhile, the former Atlanta mayor defeated a packed Democratic primary field that included former Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan and Michael Thurmond, a former CEO of DeKalb County and a representative in the Georgia General Assembly.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Bottoms, who was the mayor of Atlanta from 2018 to 2022, has been the front-runner in the Democratic primary, with polling from the <em>Atlanta Journal-Constitution<\/em> showing her with 39% of voters\u2019 support, dwarfing her opponents.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4574223\/georgia-judge-allows-poll-watchers-monitor-tabulation-primary-results\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4574223\/georgia-judge-allows-poll-watchers-monitor-tabulation-primary-results\/\">GEORGIA JUDGE ALLOWS POLL WATCHERS TO MONITOR TABULATION OF PRIMARY RESULTS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The former Atlanta official enjoyed the benefit of name ID throughout the primary election, campaigning on her record as mayor. Still, Bottoms\u2019s primary opponents argue her mayoral record will ruin the party\u2019s chances to flip the executive office in November.<\/p>\n<p>Bottoms\u2019s mayoral tenure occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Republicans have attacked her for the riots that took place under her watch, as well as for her role as a senior adviser to President Joe Biden.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Keisha Lance Bottoms wins Georgia Democratic guber nomination<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2912,"featured_media":2604807,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/keisha-lance-bottoms-primary.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[32807,4977,51159,79973],"class_list":["post-2604806","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-democratic-primary","tag-georgia","tag-gubernatorial-election","tag-keisha-lance-bottoms"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/keisha-lance-bottoms-primary.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604806","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2912"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2604806"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604806\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2604810,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604806\/revisions\/2604810"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2604807"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2604806"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2604806"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2604806"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}