The former president backs Atlanta’s former mayor in her campaign against Republican Rick Jackson, bringing national attention to Georgia’s November election.
By A.T.L. N.E.W.S. Georgia Bureau
October 8, 2026 | Atlanta, Georgia
ATLANTA, Ga. – Former President Barack Obama has endorsed Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia’s 2026 gubernatorial election, adding his support to the former Atlanta mayor’s campaign against Republican businessman Rick Jackson. The endorsement comes as both candidates intensify their efforts to reach voters ahead of the November 3 general election, which will determine who succeeds outgoing Republican Gov. Brian Kemp.
In a video released Thursday, October 8, Obama encouraged Georgia voters to support Bottoms, pointing to her experience in public office and her proposals to address health care, education and the rising cost of living. The former president highlighted her leadership during her tenure as Atlanta mayor, including her administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its efforts to manage city finances while investing in public services.
“I hope you’ll support my friend Keisha Lance Bottoms for governor,” Obama said in the recorded endorsement.
Obama Highlights Bottoms’ Leadership and Policy Priorities
Obama cited Bottoms’ background as a judge, Atlanta City Council member and mayor as examples of her experience in public service. During her administration, Atlanta navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, nationwide demonstrations over racial justice and policing, and growing concerns about housing affordability. Obama also praised her administration’s investments in young people, salary increases for police officers and firefighters, and efforts to balance the city’s budget without raising taxes.
The former president emphasized several proposals central to Bottoms’ gubernatorial campaign, including expanding Medicaid, protecting rural hospitals, reducing household expenses and improving educational opportunities. Bottoms has proposed expanding access to prekindergarten for Georgia’s four-year-olds and allowing communities to eliminate grocery taxes. Her campaign has also focused on addressing economic pressures facing working families, particularly in communities where housing, transportation and health care expenses have continued to strain household budgets.
The endorsement places Obama among the nationally recognized Democrats supporting Bottoms, who previously served in President Joe Biden’s administration as director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. Biden endorsed her gubernatorial campaign earlier this year, adding another prominent Democratic voice to the contest.
Endorsement Follows Gubernatorial Debate
Obama’s announcement follows an October 6 televised town hall-style debate between Bottoms and Jackson hosted by Atlanta News First. During the event, both candidates answered questions from undecided Georgia voters on issues ranging from affordability and public safety to health care, education, data centers and privacy. The discussion provided an opportunity for voters to examine the candidates’ different approaches to the challenges facing Georgia.
Bottoms advocated expanding Medicaid, increasing wages for state employees and creating additional educational opportunities through technical and community colleges. Jackson emphasized job creation, workforce development and policies intended to help Georgians obtain higher-paying employment. On health care, Jackson discussed proposals designed to preserve existing federal funding while pursuing changes to the state’s health care system.
The debate also reflected the different political coalitions supporting the candidates. Jackson has received endorsements from President Donald Trump and Gov. Brian Kemp, while Bottoms has secured support from Obama and Biden. Their competing visions for Georgia’s future have placed economic development, government spending, health care access and education among the major issues in the campaign.
Georgia Draws National Political Attention
Georgia’s gubernatorial contest is unfolding alongside another major statewide election, as Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff seeks reelection against Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Collins. Obama also endorsed Ossoff on Thursday, emphasizing voting rights, civil rights and economic opportunity in a separate campaign message. Trump and Kemp have endorsed Collins, further demonstrating the involvement of national political figures in Georgia’s 2026 elections.
Georgia has attracted sustained national political attention following several competitive statewide elections in recent years. The state supported Biden in the 2020 presidential election before voting for Trump in 2024, while Democrats won both U.S. Senate seats in the 2020–2021 election cycle. Those results have made Georgia an important state for both major parties, particularly as they compete for support among suburban voters, rural communities and the state’s growing metropolitan populations.
For Bottoms, Obama’s endorsement provides an opportunity to highlight her relationship with a former president who remains an influential figure within the Democratic Party. For Jackson, the support of Trump and Kemp reinforces his connections to prominent Republican leaders. Both campaigns are seeking to turn those endorsements into voter participation while continuing to promote their respective policy agendas.
Georgia Voters Prepare for November Election
With Election Day approaching, both campaigns are entering the final weeks of outreach across Georgia. Early voting is scheduled to begin October 13 and continue through October 30, giving residents an opportunity to cast their ballots before the November 3 general election. The gubernatorial race will determine the direction of state leadership on issues including health care, education, economic development, taxation and public safety.
Obama concluded his endorsement by reminding Georgians of the importance of participating in the election, telling voters that there is much at stake. As Bottoms and Jackson continue campaigning, voters will ultimately decide which candidate will lead Georgia when Kemp’s second term concludes in January 2027.