Keisha Lance Bottoms wins Democratic governor primary, avoids runoff

Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms avoided a runoff on Tuesday by receiving 56% of the vote in the Democratic primary for governor.

Bottoms took her win as proof of her campaign’s success and potential to win the general election in November.

“We have a very powerful campaign that’s ready to take on whoever comes out of this Republican primary in November,” Bottoms said in an interview with CBS News “The Takeout.”

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones will face Rick Jackson in the runoff for the Republican primary for governor after neither candidate received 50% of the vote on Tuesday. Bottoms conflated the two candidates with President Donald Trump.

“Just in terms of their running toward Trump’s MAGA agenda, they’re equally awful in that regard,” she said. “That’s not what the people of this state want to hear. They want to hear how we are going to address these everyday issues that are impacting their lives: cost of living, access or lack thereof to healthcare, education, access to jobs.”

Georgia has never had a Black person or a woman elected as governor. However, Bottoms said that historical significance is not the energy behind her campaign.

“I don’t go around thinking about the label of being a Black woman,” she said. “What I’m thinking about right now is just how I’m going to deliver for the people across the state. It’s just about how will you make my life better and why should I vote for you.”

Bottoms said, if elected, her policy priorities will be to expand Medicaid, increase teacher salaries and tackle affordable housing issues.