Biden endorses – Former President Joe Biden throws his support behind Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia’s governor race, his first endorsement since leaving office.
Joe Biden’s first endorsement since leaving the White House lands in Georgia, where he has backed former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms for governor.
In a video released Friday, Biden said he has known Bottoms for a long time and described her as someone “something special,” praising her leadership and saying the traits that made her a strong mayor also made her valuable during the Biden administration.
He also characterized Bottoms as smart and focused, adding that she is able to deliver results—language that signals a campaign pitch built around competence and effectiveness.
For Georgia Democrats, endorsements like this can matter even before primary voters cast ballots, because they can help shape momentum in crowded fields where name recognition is uneven and attention is scarce.
Bottoms is seeking the Democratic nomination in a competitive contest that includes several prominent figures.. Among those in the field are former Georgia state Sen.. Jason Esteves, former state labor commissioner and DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond, and former Lt.. Gov.. Geoff Duncan, who previously served as a Republican before switching parties.
Public polling has shown Bottoms leading, but the outcome may not hinge on the top spot alone. If no candidate reaches a required threshold after the May 19 primary, Georgia would move the race into a runoff, extending the contest and potentially reshaping how coalition voters line up.
The eventual Democratic nominee will then face the Republican winner in Georgia’s governor’s race. a matchup that carries extra weight because the state remains a key battleground in federal elections.. Georgia also has a recent record of leaning more Republican in statewide executive contests and has not elected a Democrat as governor since the late 1990s.
Meanwhile, the Republican primary is also crowded and, like the Democratic side, appears unlikely to resolve quickly without a runoff.. With incumbent Gov.. Brian Kemp term-limited, Lt.. Gov.. Burt Jones and businessman Rick Jackson are among those leading in public polling. while Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and state attorney general Chris Carr are also in the race.
This endorsement matters because Georgia’s governor’s race is not just about selecting a nominee; it is about projecting strength in a state where turnout, persuasion, and coalition-building can determine whether Democrats can compete at the top of the ticket.