Who is Keisha Lance Bottoms? First Black woman elected governor in US history

Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms secured a historic victory in Georgia's gubernatorial race on Tuesday, making her the first black woman elected governor of a U.S. state and the first female governor of the state. The outcome, according to U.S. media projections, saw Bottoms defeat Republican businessman Rick Jackson by a significant margin.

Bottoms, who will succeed Republican Governor Brian Kemp, who is stepping down after two terms, brings with her extensive political experience. Formerly the mayor of Atlanta, she has also served as a senior adviser to President Joe Biden and director of the White House Office of Public Engagement.

This win is a monumental milestone for black women in American politics. Despite being a vital part of the Democratic Party's base, their representation in the highest elected offices has long been limited. In the same evening, Stacey Plaskett was elected as the first black woman governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, a U.S. territory.

Bottoms' triumph signifies a pivotal shift in Georgia's political landscape. Historically, black voters have been a cornerstone of the Democratic coalition, helping transform the traditionally Republican state into a fierce battleground nationally. Republicans had dominated the governor's office for over two decades.

Jackson, the billionaire founder of healthcare staffing firm Jackson Healthcare, positioned himself as an outsider, advocating for tax cuts, public safety, and reduced government regulation. However, Bottoms' victory comes eight years after her rival, fellow Democrat Stacey Abrams, became the first black woman nominated for governor by a major U.S. political party.

Although Abrams lost the governor's race in Georgia in 2018 and 2022, her campaigns played a crucial role in building a diverse coalition, leading to the election of two Democratic U.S. senators and securing Georgia's electoral votes for a Democratic presidential candidate for the first time in decades.