Former President Joe Biden has endorsed Keisha Lance Bottoms for Georgia governor in the Democratic primary, marking his first political endorsement since leaving office. In a video posted on social media, Biden praised Bottoms, whom he has known for years, calling her 'something special' and highlighting her leadership during crises as Atlanta's mayor, including the COVID-19 pandemic and a major cyberattack. He also noted her service in his administration as a senior adviser, describing her as 'smart, focused, and someone who gets things done.'
Bottoms is the frontrunner in the Democratic primary, with a 52% lead in recent polling, though she may still face a runoff if she fails to secure more than 50% of the vote on May 19. The Republican primary is also competitive, with businessman Rick Jackson and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones leading in polls. Georgia has not elected a Democratic governor since 1999, though Stacey Abrams came close in 2018, losing by less than two percentage points.
Biden’s endorsement comes as Democrats regain confidence after his widely criticized role in the party’s 2024 election losses. Analysts had previously considered him politically radioactive, but recent momentum has emboldened the party to take risks. Bottoms, who was also considered a potential vice-presidential candidate in 2020, faces competition from former state Sen. Jason Esteves, ex-state labor commissioner Michael Thurmond, and former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, who switched parties from Republican to Democrat.
The Republican primary includes Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who gained national attention for resisting pressure to overturn the 2020 election results. The GOP race is expected to go to a runoff, with no candidate likely to secure a majority in the initial vote.