Keisha Lance Bottoms

Keisha Lance Bottoms
Born	Keisha Lance 18 1, 1970
Birthplace	Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Attorney, politician
Title	60th Mayor of Atlanta
Known for	60th Mayor of Atlanta; 2026 Georgia gubernatorial candidate
Education	Georgia State University (JD)
Children	4
Awards	EMILYs List endorsement (2025)
Website	[[keishalancebottoms.com keishalancebottoms.com] Official site]

Keisha Lance Bottoms (née Lance; born January 18, 1970) is an American attorney and Democratic politician who served as the 60th Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, from January 2018 to January 2022. Born and raised in Atlanta, Bottoms first entered public office as a member of the Atlanta City Council, representing the 11th district from 2010 to 2018, before winning a closely contested mayoral runoff election in December 2017. Her tenure as mayor was defined in large part by her responses to a series of national crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the nationwide protests following the killing of George Floyd in May 2020, during which she delivered widely noted public remarks urging calm and civic engagement. After choosing not to seek reelection, she joined the Biden administration in 2022 as Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. As of 2025, Bottoms is a candidate for Governor of Georgia in the 2026 election, seeking to become the first Black woman elected governor of any U.S. state and the first former Atlanta mayor to win the Georgia governorship.

Early Life

Keisha Lance was born on January 18, 1970, in Atlanta, Georgia. Her father was Major Lance, a Chicago-born R&B and soul singer who achieved commercial success in the 1960s with hits such as "The Monkey Time." Her family's connection to the civil rights movement ran deep: her aunt was Ruby Doris Smith-Robinson, a prominent activist and executive secretary of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) who participated in sit-ins and Freedom Rides before her early death in 1967.

Bottoms' childhood was marked by significant personal challenges. Her father struggled with drug addiction and spent time in prison during her formative years, experiences that she has publicly discussed as shaping her worldview and her commitment to public service. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on the difficult circumstances of her upbringing, noting how the challenges faced by her parents influenced her path into law and politics. Despite these hardships, Bottoms grew up in Atlanta's Southwest community, where she developed ties to the neighborhoods she would later represent on the City Council.

The intersection of her family's musical legacy, civil rights heritage, and the personal struggles within her household provided Bottoms with a complex background that she has drawn upon throughout her political career. She has spoken about her father's legacy and the lessons she took from observing both his talents and his difficulties, framing these experiences as motivations for her emphasis on criminal justice issues and community development.

Education

Bottoms attended Florida A&M University (FAMU), a historically black university in Tallahassee, Florida, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She subsequently returned to Atlanta to pursue a legal education at Georgia State University College of Law, earning her Juris Doctor degree in 1994. In a 2018 profile, Georgia State University highlighted Bottoms' reflections on her time at the law school, with the then-newly inaugurated mayor crediting the institution with helping to develop her professional discipline and work ethic. Her legal training at Georgia State formed the foundation for her subsequent career as an attorney and her entry into municipal government.

Career

Atlanta City Council (2010–2018)

Bottoms began her career in elected office in January 2010, when she took office as the representative for the 11th district on the Atlanta City Council, succeeding Jim Maddox. The 11th district encompasses parts of Southwest Atlanta, the area where Bottoms grew up. She served on the council for two full terms, spanning eight years. During her time on the council, she developed a focus on neighborhood revitalization, zoning issues, and constituent services in her district.

Her tenure on the city council provided Bottoms with a platform and political base from which to launch her campaign for mayor. She built relationships across the city's political establishment and cultivated support among Atlanta's diverse constituencies. Throughout her council years, she gained familiarity with the inner workings of municipal governance, budgetary processes, and the complex political dynamics of one of the American South's largest cities.

2017 Mayoral Election

Bottoms entered the 2017 Atlanta mayoral race to succeed Kasim Reed, who was term-limited. The election proved to be one of the most competitive and contentious in the city's recent history. In the initial round of voting, Bottoms and Mary Norwood, an independent city council member, emerged as the top two candidates, advancing to a December 2017 runoff election.

The runoff was extraordinarily close, and the outcome was not immediately certain. Bottoms ultimately prevailed by a margin of fewer than 1,000 votes, and Norwood subsequently conceded defeat. The campaign was not without controversy. The Atlanta Ethics Commission opened an investigation into the Bottoms campaign regarding disclosure issues, and Bottoms faced questions about a campaign donation from a contractor who was under scrutiny, which she returned. In the final days before the runoff, Bottoms called on the state attorney general to investigate fake robocalls that targeted voters.

Mayor of Atlanta (2018–2022)

Bottoms was inaugurated as the 60th Mayor of Atlanta on January 2, 2018, succeeding Kasim Reed. She became only the second woman to serve as mayor of Atlanta, following Shirley Franklin.

Immigration and Welcoming City Policies

Early in her tenure, Bottoms continued and expanded Atlanta's stance as a "welcoming city" with regard to immigration policy. The city had already established itself in opposition to certain federal immigration enforcement measures, and under Bottoms' leadership, Atlanta maintained its position of not cooperating with federal immigration raids. In 2019, as reports emerged of planned ICE raids targeting multiple U.S. cities, Bottoms was among the mayors who publicly addressed the situation and the city's preparedness. This position aligned with a broader stance the city had taken in the wake of federal refugee bans.

COVID-19 Pandemic Response

The COVID-19 pandemic presented one of the most significant challenges of Bottoms' mayoralty. In 2020, she navigated the public health crisis at the municipal level, often taking positions that diverged from those of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp. When Kemp moved to reopen the state's economy in April 2020, Bottoms publicly rebuked the decision, expressing concern that the reopening was premature and could endanger residents. This disagreement became a focal point of tension between state and local government in Georgia during the early months of the pandemic.

Bottoms herself contracted COVID-19, announcing her positive test in July 2020. The Guardian reported on the personal dimension of her pandemic experience and how it intersected with her responsibilities as mayor. Her own diagnosis further underscored the severity of the crisis and drew national attention to the pandemic's impact on public officials and communities of color.

George Floyd Protests and National Profile

Bottoms' national profile rose significantly in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer on May 25, 2020. As protests erupted across the United States, including in Atlanta, Bottoms delivered an emotional and direct public address condemning both Floyd's killing and the violence that had accompanied some of the demonstrations. In her remarks, she urged residents who cared about Atlanta to channel their anger into constructive action rather than destruction.

Her speech was carried live on national television and drew substantial attention. CNN featured her remarks prominently, and she appeared on the network to discuss the protests and their underlying causes, including systemic racism and police brutality. During one notable appearance, she addressed comments made by President Donald Trump regarding the protests. Forbes described her as a leader whose combined role as a mayor and a mother resonated with a broad audience during the crisis. CNN later carried additional analysis of her role during the protest period.

The national attention she received during this period led to widespread speculation about her as a potential vice presidential running mate for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. Politico reported that Bottoms was among the candidates Biden was considering for the position. Bottoms had endorsed Biden's presidential campaign in 2019. Biden ultimately selected Kamala Harris as his running mate, but Bottoms' inclusion in the shortlist underscored her elevated national standing.

Decision Not to Seek Reelection

In May 2021, Bottoms announced that she would not seek a second term as mayor of Atlanta. Her decision surprised many political observers given her high national profile. She was succeeded by Andre Dickens, who took office in January 2022.

Biden Administration (2022–2023)

Following her departure from the mayor's office, Bottoms transitioned to a role in the federal government. President Joe Biden had nominated her as vice chair of civic engagement and voter protection at the Democratic National Committee for the 2021–2025 term. In June 2022, it was announced that Bottoms would join the Biden administration as Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, succeeding Cedric Richmond in the role. She officially began serving on July 1, 2022.

In this capacity, Bottoms served as a liaison between the White House and various external stakeholders, including community organizations, advocacy groups, and business leaders. She departed the position in early 2023, with Stephen Benjamin succeeding her as director. Bottoms also served as a member of the President's Export Council during this period.

2026 Georgia Gubernatorial Campaign

In 2025, Bottoms announced her candidacy for Governor of Georgia in the 2026 election. Her campaign represents an effort to become both the first Black woman elected governor of any U.S. state and the first former Atlanta mayor to win the Georgia governorship.

The campaign has outlined a platform centered on Medicaid expansion, education policy, and economic development across the state. Bottoms has actively campaigned across Georgia, including a stop in Augusta in February 2026.

In December 2025, EMILYs List, a national political organization that supports Democratic women candidates who back abortion rights, endorsed Bottoms' gubernatorial bid, providing a significant institutional boost to her campaign.

Bottoms has also secured notable national support for her campaign. In February 2026, California Governor Gavin Newsom traveled to Atlanta to campaign on her behalf at a fundraising event, drawing attention both from supporters and from political commentators who debated the strategic implications of the high-profile endorsement.

In late February 2026, Bottoms appeared at the second annual Ben Crump Human Rights Honors in Midtown Atlanta, where she connected themes from the civil rights movement to her gubernatorial campaign.

Personal Life

Bottoms is married to Derek Bottoms, who has held executive positions in the corporate sector. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution profiled Derek Bottoms in connection with his wife's political career. The couple has four children.

Bottoms' father, Major Lance, was a Chicago-born soul and R&B singer best known for the 1963 hit "The Monkey Time," written by Curtis Mayfield. Major Lance faced legal troubles and substance abuse issues during his later years. He died in 1994. Bottoms has spoken publicly about the impact of her father's struggles on her life and her understanding of criminal justice issues.

Her aunt, Ruby Doris Smith-Robinson, was a civil rights activist who served as executive secretary of SNCC and participated in some of the movement's most significant direct actions before her death at age 25 in 1967. This family legacy has been a recurring element in Bottoms' public narrative, particularly during her 2026 gubernatorial campaign, in which she has invoked her aunt's activism and the broader civil rights tradition.

Recognition

Bottoms received significant national attention during her tenure as mayor, particularly in 2020. Her public remarks during the George Floyd protests were featured on CNN, cited by Forbes, and discussed across national media outlets. She was included on the shortlist of potential vice presidential candidates considered by Joe Biden during the 2020 presidential campaign, a distinction that reflected her elevated national profile at the time.

Her appointment by President Biden as Senior Advisor and Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement in 2022 represented a significant federal role and acknowledgment of her standing within the Democratic Party. Her nomination as vice chair of civic engagement and voter protection at the DNC further reflected her role in national party infrastructure.

In December 2025, Bottoms received the endorsement of EMILYs List for her gubernatorial campaign, a notable institutional endorsement from one of the most prominent organizations supporting Democratic women candidates in the United States.