Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated Republican businessman Rick Jackson in Georgia’s governor’s race Tuesday, becoming the first Black woman elected governor of a U.S. state and the first woman to hold the office in Georgia. Her victory is Democrats’ first gubernatorial win in the state since 1998 and ends more than two decades of Republican control [brecorder.com][thecurrentga.org][theglobeandmail.com]. Bottoms, a former Atlanta mayor and Biden administration adviser, will succeed term-limited Gov. Brian Kemp [brecorder.com][tmj4.com]. Bottoms campaigned on affordability and health care, including Medicaid expansion, while Jackson emphasized tax cuts, public safety and deregulation. Jackson spent more than $200 million of his own money on the race, but Bottoms won despite the spending gap [thecurrentga.org][news18.com]. Georgia voters also re-elected Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff [theglobeandmail.com]. Bottoms could face a divided state legislature: Republicans were expected to retain the Senate, requiring her to negotiate with at least one GOP-led chamber [thecurrentga.org]. The governor also plays a role in certifying Georgia’s 2028 presidential election results. The campaign revisited that responsibility and disputes over the 2020 vote [reddit.com][mediafax.ro]. Highlights: • Policy agenda: Bottoms proposed raising Georgia’s minimum wage to $15 an hour, repealing the state’s ban on abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy, and pausing new data-center projects [thecurrentga.org][firstpost.com]. • Affordability proposals: Bottoms proposed allowing local governments to eliminate sales taxes on groceries, diapers, baby formula and feminine-hygiene products, along with tax relief for teachers and on insurance premiums [rollingstone.com]. • Campaign alignment: Jackson invoked Trump during the Republican primary but shifted toward aligning himself with Gov. Brian Kemp after winning the nomination [reddit.com][reddit.com]. • Ossoff’s role: The senator held “United for Georgia” rallies with Bottoms, and his campaign transferred millions to the state party’s coordinated effort to help her [reddit.com]. • Election scrutiny: The FBI seized Georgia election records related to the 2020 vote this year [reddit.com][mediafax.ro]. Perspectives: Keisha Lance Bottoms, Democratic governor-elect: Bottoms pledged to shield Georgia from what she called harmful policies of the Trump administration [thecurrentga.org][reddit.com]. (The Current GA) Rick Jackson, Republican candidate: Jackson promised to cut Georgia’s income tax in half during his first term and said he would not seek another term if he failed to do so [dailysignal.com]. (The Daily Signal) Georgia Democrats: Democrats were also seeking to flip control of the state House, aiming to widen their foothold in state government [thecurrentga.org]. (The Current GA) "“I’m not running to be his favorite governor.”" — Keisha Lance Bottoms, Democratic governor-elect of Georgia Sources: • Keisha Lance Bottoms Wins in Georgia to Become First Black Woman Elected U.S. Governor - nytimes.com • Keisha Lance Bottoms Makes History as First Black Woman Elected Governor - rollingstone.com • Keisha Lance Bottoms Secures Victory in Georgia Governor’s Race - dailysignal.com • Keisha Lance Bottoms wins the Georgia governor’s race, flipping the office for Democrats - reddit.com • Keisha Lance Bottoms set to become first Black woman governor in US - salon.com • Democrats take Georgia race to elect nation's first Black woman governor - alternet.org • Georgia elects the nation's first Black female governor - reddit.com • Keisha Lance Bottoms wins Georgia race, becomes first Black woman elected governor of US state - brecorder.com • Keisha Lance Bottoms wins Georgia, becomes first Black woman governor in US history - firstpost.com • Keisha Lance Bottoms elected as Georgia’s first Black female governor - thecurrentga.org • Keisha Lance Bottoms Makes History as First Black Woman to Win Georgia Governor Seat - tuko.co.ke • Keisha Lance Bottoms becomes Georgia’s first black governor - aljazeera.com • Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms wins in Georgia, becomes first Black woman elected governor of a U.S. state - theglobeandmail.com • WORLD: Keisha Lance Bottoms wins Georgia race, becomes first black woman elected governor of US - dailymaverick.co.za • Keisha Lance Bottoms Makes History as First Black Woman Elected Governor of a US State - pakobserver.net • Keisha Lance Bottoms, prima femeie și prima persoană de culoare care câștigă alegerile pentru funcția de guvernator al Georgiei - mediafax.ro • Keisha Lance Bottoms to become Georgia’s first Black governor, first woman governor - tmj4.com • Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms makes history as 1st Black woman to be elected Georgia governor - 41nbc.com • Georgia: Keisha Lance Bottoms elected first Black woman governor in U.S. history - ynetnews.com • Keisha Lance Bottoms becomes Georgias first black governor - indiavision.com • Keisha Lance Bottoms Makes History As First Black Woman Elected US Governor, Flips Georgia - news18.com --- 📰 Story aggregated by Kagi News