Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has won the Democratic primary in Georgia\u2019s race for governor, NBC News projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bottoms secured more than 50% of the vote, which was necessary to avoid a runoff and advance to the November general election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She emerged from a crowded Democratic primary field that included former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond, former state Sen. Jason Esteves and former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, who served as a Republican but later switched parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bottoms, who had consistently led in the polls of the primary, is well known among Georgia Democratic voters after having been mayor of Atlanta from 2018 to 2022 and after that a member of the Biden administration. Former President Joe Biden endorsed her in the final stretch of the primary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her opponent in the November general election remains unclear. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and billionaire healthcare executive Rick Jackson advanced to a June runoff in the Republican primary, NBC News projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Georgia has emerged as a key battleground in recent federal elections, it has still skewed more Republican at the state level. Georgia voters haven\u2019t elected a Democrat governor since 1998.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2018, Democrat Stacey Abrams came within less than 2 points of winning the gubernatorial contest against Brian Kemp, who is now governor. Kemp beat her again in a 2022 rematch election by more than 7 points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n