Keisha Lance Bottoms wins Georgia Democratic governor primary, CBS News projects

Local News Keisha Lance Bottoms avoids runoff to win Georgia Democratic governor primary, CBS News projects By Zachary Bynum, Zachary Bynum Digital Producer, CBS News Atlanta Zachary Bynum is a digital content producer for CBS Atlanta and the South region. Read Full Bio Zachary Bynum, Dan Raby Dan Raby Senior Digital Producer, CBS News Atlanta Dan Raby, the senior digital producer for CBS News Atlanta, has been covering everything happening around Georgia for more than a decade. Read Full Bio Dan Raby Updated on: May 19, 2026 / 10:34 PM EDT / CBS Atlanta Add CBS News on Google Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has avoided a runoff and will be the Democratic nominee for Georgia governor, CBS News projects.Bottoms, who previously served as mayor of Atlanta and later as a senior adviser in the Biden administration, is projected to receive more than 50% of the vote, securing her the nomination.The former mayor, the only Black woman running in the race, focused her campaign heavily on voting rights, healthcare access, economic equity and defending Democratic gains in Georgia following years of intense political competition in the battleground state. She came into the race as the favorite with strong name recognition and the support of former President Biden, who announced his endorsement earlier in May."Who I am is a battle-tested leader, and what I've been saying to people across the state is, I know what it's like to go into battle," she said. "I know what it's like to go up against Donald Trump. I know what it's like not to back down against Donald Trump."Other candidates in the race included former Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, state Sen. Jason Esteves, and former Georgia labor commissioner and DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond.Though she had a decisive win in the primary, Republicans are now ready to attack the former mayor on how she managed crime, disorder, and the COVID pandemic before jolting Atlanta politicos by not seeking reelection. Some candida...