Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is moving closer toward an official run for Georgia governor after she filed paperwork on Monday that would allow her to receive campaign contributions for a gubernatorial bid.
“I am honored and humbled by the encouragement I have received as I have considered running for Governor,” Bottoms said in a statement.
“I am taking an important administrative step in this journey by filing necessary paperwork to establish a Campaign Committee. I look forward to making an announcement in the coming weeks,” she added.
The former Atlanta mayor has previously said she’s considering a run for Georgia governor, but she hasn’t formally declared her candidacy yet. Gov. Brian Kemp (R) is term-limited and cannot run again.
Georgia state Sen. Jason Esteves (D) has also announced a run for Georgia governor on the Democratic side; Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) had also filed paperwork that would allow her to receive campaign contributions for a gubernatorial run but paused efforts around a potential bid to focus on her the health of her husband, who is dealing with cancer.
Stacey Abrams, who’s run for governor twice in Georgia and lost, could also jump into the race.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Chris Carr (R) has launched a run for governor on the Republican side and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (R) is widely expected to enter the race as well.
The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report rates Kemp’s seat as a “toss up.”
