Dems Take Georgia Governor and Senate Race, While House Seats May Split

Bottoms wins governor’s contest

The Associated Press projected Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms as the winner over Republican Rick Jackson in Georgia’s open governor’s race. With three-quarters of votes counted, the AP reported Bottoms at 55.4 percent; NBC News also projected her victory.

Bottoms, an attorney and former Atlanta mayor, campaigned on expanding Medicaid, creating a housing and rent trust fund, offering free community college and widening the repeal of Georgia abortion restrictions. Jackson presented himself as a self-made businessman and political outsider, including before securing the Republican nomination.

After certification, Bottoms is scheduled to take office January 11, succeeding Republican Brian Kemp. She would become the first Black female governor in U.S. history.

Ossoff leads Senate challenge

Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff appeared to defeat Republican Mike Collins after a closely fought Senate campaign. Ossoff entered Election Day with a substantial advantage, allowing the Democrats’ leading campaign organization to redirect some funding toward more competitive contests.

Federal Election Commission filings showed Ossoff spent more than $100 million on his campaign, compared with just over $10 million for Collins. Georgia permits election officials to start counting mail ballots on Election Day morning, and the AP reported that Ossoff held a large early lead shortly after polls closed at 7 p.m. EST.

House delegation remains divided

Georgia’s House results showed a split delegation at the time of publication: six Democrats and eight Republicans, according to the AP. Five of the nine races that had been called were Democratic wins.

Republicans had won nine of Georgia’s 14 House seats in 2024. The reported current count therefore showed a different balance, although several races had not yet been called.