Georgia is single-handedly shifting the conversation on Black women in politics

October 29, 2026

Following the 2024 presidential election, eight Black Democratic women are running for statewide offices in Georgia, marking a historic record for the state. Leading the ticket is former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who is seeking to become the first Black woman governor in U.S. history, while others are competing for positions including attorney general, secretary of state, and various commissioner roles. These candidates, including attorney Tanya Miller and Judge Penny Brown Reynolds, emphasize their extensive qualifications and professional experience rather than focusing primarily on their historic potential.

Who is affected

Eight Black Democratic women candidates running for statewide office in Georgia (Keisha Lance Bottoms, Tanya Miller, Penny Brown Reynolds, Katherine Juhan-Arnold, Keisha Waites, Nikki Porcher, Sheila Edwards, and Lydia Powell)
Georgia voters who will decide these races
Black women voters and younger Black women who see themselves represented
Students at Atlanta's historically Black colleges and universities participating in campaign fellowship programs
Small-dollar donors contributing to these campaigns
The Democratic Party in Georgia

What action is being taken

The eight Black Democratic women are actively campaigning for their respective statewide offices in Georgia
Penny Brown Reynolds is running a fellowship program within her campaign to train students from Atlanta's historically Black colleges and universities in campaign operations
Candidates are raising funds through small-dollar donations from supporters
Rick Jackson is spending over $200 million of his own money on his gubernatorial campaign
Voters are being mobilized through grassroots organizing efforts built on decades of work by Black women activists

Why it matters

This represents a historic moment for Black women's political representation, with eight candidates running simultaneously for statewide office in Georgia for the first time. The candidacies demonstrate the long-term results of decades of grassroots organizing and voter mobilization work by Black women in Georgia, which has transformed the state's electoral landscape. These campaigns signify a shift where highly qualified Black women are moving from supporting others to running themselves, emphasizing their professional credentials rather than solely their identity. The races could fundamentally change who holds power in Georgia and open doors for future generations of Black women in politics, particularly in the Deep South where such representation has been historically denied.

What's next

Election Day voting will determine the outcomes of these ten statewide races. Regardless of electoral results, the presence of these candidates on the ballot is expected to change conversations about what Black women can achieve in politics and inspire future candidates.

Read full article from source: The 19th