Keisha Lance Bottoms has won the Democratic nomination for Georgia governor, avoiding a runoff and positioning herself for a November matchup in one of the country’s closely watched battlegrounds.

The former Atlanta mayor and Biden administration official cleared the 50% threshold in Tuesday’s primary, according to NBC News, in a race that also featured state Sen. Jason Esteves, DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond, and former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan.

“I am a fighter,” she said, addressing a crowd after her win. “I could not rest knowing that people across this state needed someone to stand in the gap and fight on their behalf. And Georgians sent a clear message tonight that they want a fighter. Someone who will stand up to Donald Trump in all of the chaos that's raising costs, that's hurt our economy, that threatens the rights of generations, that generations before us fought for and died for.”

Bottoms’ victory gives Democrats a candidate with statewide name recognition and executive experience as they try to break a long losing streak in Georgia’s governor’s office. In her campaign, Bottoms has emphasized what she’s referred to as “battle-tested” leadership from her time running Atlanta through the Covid-19 pandemic and a period of rising crime.

She also leaned into issues shaping the 2026 race, including healthcare expansion, affordable housing, and education. The win comes as Georgia Republicans head to a June 16 runoff to settle their own governor’s contest, ensuring the state will stay at the center of the national political map through the summer.

Georgia has not elected a Democratic governor in more than two decades, making Bottoms’ nomination a major step for a party hoping to flip a state that has become increasingly competitive in presidential and Senate races.

With the primary now settled, Democrats can now fully shift their focus to the fall campaign and a November race that is expected to draw heavy national attention.