5 facts to know about Keisha Lance Bottoms, America’s first black female governor

By Morenike Taire, Woman Editor

Her historic victory in Georgia breaks a century-old political barrier for Black women in the United States.
The United States has recorded another milestone in its political history following the election of Keisha Lance Bottoms as Georgia’s governor, making her the first Black woman elected governor of a US state.
Bottoms, a former mayor of Atlanta, defeated Republican candidate Rick Jackson in the November 3, 2026 gubernatorial election. Her victory is particularly significant in a country where women and Black Americans have historically faced considerable barriers to political representation.
Here are five things to know about the woman makin...