Keisha Lance Bottoms, 55, is the former Mayor of Atlanta (2018-2022) and served as Senior Advisor and Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement under President Biden (2022-2023). She earned her bachelor's degree from Florida A&M University and her J.D. from Georgia State University. Before becoming mayor, Bottoms served on the Atlanta City Council. She is leading the Democratic primary with 40% support in polling, significantly ahead of other Democratic candidates.
Bottoms earned her bachelor's degree from Florida A&M University and her J.D. from Georgia State University. She worked as a private practice attorney before entering Atlanta politics. She served on the Atlanta City Council before being elected Mayor in 2017 with narrow margins, serving one term defined by the COVID-19 pandemic and racial justice unrest in 2020. She then served in the Biden administration before launching her 2026 gubernatorial campaign.