Florida A&M alumna Keisha Lance Bottoms made history on Nov. 3, becoming the first Black woman governor in American history.
Bottoms grounded her campaign for governor of Georgia in economic relief, lower living costs and expanded statewide healthcare for working families. Her run generated significant pride at her alma mater in Tallahassee, Florida, located just 20 miles from the Georgia state border.
Former President Barack Obama joined Bottoms alongside Sen. Jon Ossoff for the “United for Georgia” campaign rally Wednesday in Atlanta. Addressing an energized crowd of supporters, Bottoms framed the election as a turning point for the state’s future.
“In just six days, we will send a message that Georgia is a state where everyone has an opportunity to make their dreams come true,” Bottoms declared.
Central to her platform is a targeted plan to ease financial burdens for working-class households across Georgia.
“Families are trying to make every dollar count,” Bottoms said. “I’m going to lower costs by giving local leaders the power to eliminate taxes on groceries, diapers and feminine hygiene products.”
She further outlined broad tax reform and housing support, adding, “I am going to build more affordable housing, provide targeted tax relief for homeowners, and cut taxes through a state tax holiday on automobile and homeowners insurance.”
Bottoms also underscored her commitment to strengthening public education and expanding economic access.
“We will fully fund education in Georgia,” she promised. “We will ensure that every child has an opportunity to attend pre-K and we will raise teacher pay. … We will create pathways for free technical and community college so that every Georgian can get the skills and education they need.”
Alongside economic relief, expanding healthcare access remains a cornerstone of her platform.
“I believe every Georgian has the right to get the healthcare that they need and deserve,” she emphasized. Pledging immediate action upon taking office, Bottoms stated, “On day one, I’m going to move to expand Medicaid, protect our rural hospitals and make sure Georgians can afford to access healthcare.”
On Florida A&M University’s campus, Bottoms’ bid to make history as Georgia’s first Black woman governor is generating significant pride and reflection among students and community members.
Students express that seeing a FAMU graduate on the national political stage builds directly upon the university’s historical foundation.
“It adds to the standard of excellence that FAMU has already established since 1887,” said Jada Bostic, a student from Atlanta.
“Seeing more excellence being brought up, knowing that you can have the same background or the same come-up, adds relatability. You know it’s just as possible for you as it was for them if you put in the work. … FAMU is always making history, and the history only keeps getting better.”
Bostic also pointed to Bottoms’ campaign points on education funding and Medicaid expansion as top priorities for Georgia.
“K through 12 education being defunded is not the best for Georgians, and we can see that through our literacy crisis,” Bostic noted. On healthcare, she added, “I really like her policies on Medicaid and healthcare. I hope those would be more of the priority alongside education, but really focusing on the hospitals and making sure the hospitals around and across Georgia are funded.”
Autumn Haddox is sports editor of The FAMUAN at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida, where this article was originally published. The FAMUAN and HUNewsService.com are part of the HBCU Election Project in collaboration with WHUT-TV Howard University Television. They are also among 10 HBCU newsrooms in the Indaba Student Press Leadership and Innovation Consortium, sponsored by Howard’s Center for Journalism & Democracy.
