Keisha Lance Bottoms makes history in Georgia governor race

Let's take you back to the Keisha Lance Bottoms headquarters where she is coming out on stage to speak. Let's listen. Good evening, everyone. Good evening, everyone. First, I just want to say how proud I am of my mom. I've watched her work hard, face challenges and continue to believe in the people of Georgia and what we can do together. Tonight, Georgia made its choice and I couldn't be happier for her. But beyond the governor that she'll be, she's my mom. And that's what makes this moment so special for me. Mom, I love you, I'm proud of you, and I'm especially grateful that even with everything on your plate, you still make time to do TikTok dances with me. Those moments mean so much to me, and they remind me that no matter how important your work is, you'll always be my mom first. I can't wait to see what you do for the state. Congratulations, Mom. We have traveled from the Red Hills of Georgia to the Blue Ridge Mountains of the Piedmont, from the coastal shores to rolling farmlands, from urban streets to rural communities. And with each stop, your faces, your families, your communities, your hopes and your dreams, and even your disappointments have been imprinted upon my heart. This campaign was about every community in every corner of Georgia. It is for the veteran who needs access to health care. It's for the college student who wonders if the cost of their education is worth it. It's for the teenager who's asked about mental health support. This win is for the caregiver who can't afford health care and needs Georgia to finally expand Medicaid. For the entrepreneur who is seeking to grow her small business. This win is for the farmer who is trying to hold on to his family land. It is for the teacher who's working two jobs so that they can educate our children. And this win is for the child who deserves every opportunity to succeed. Georgia, this win is for all of us. Thank you, Georgia. I am honored to be your 84th governor. I spoke with Rick Jackson just a while ago for a hard-fought race. And we agreed that together we would continue to support foster children across this state. Who you voted for tonight, I will be a governor for all of Georgia. This campaign, I believe that God would not give vision without provision. That provision has come by way of every prayer sent, every door knocked, every phone call made, and every donation given, and every sign that has been planted. In big and small ways, you've shown that no amount of money will ever, ever people. To Derek, you are my rock And the love of my life. I am grateful to be your wife. Lance, Langston, Lennox and Lincoln, the highest honor I will ever have is to be your mother. You are the real MVP and you told me that God was going to show himself at his finest today and our God has exceeded all of my expectations. To my big sister Tracy and my brother Darian, All of my siblings, all of my family, and my dearest friends, I am eternally grateful for you. And to my daddy. Thank you, daddy, for your unconditional love and for instilling in me a fearlessness that made me believe that I could be and do whatever my heart desired. Grandmama, granddaddy, other mama, and the rest of the great heavenly cloud of witnesses. We have run this race with perseverance, and I know you've cheered us on the entire way. Sharon Hickson, Rashad Taylor, Theron Johnson. The gold-necked stool is undefeated. And the entire team, KLB, I wish I had time to call all your names. Love and appreciate you all. Tonight, I love you too. Tonight would not have been possible without your long hours and your sacrifices. And to the volunteers who committed so much of your own lives to this effort, thank you. Your never-ending belief in this campaign has made today a reality. You sent a message that will ring across our state and our nation. You voted and you voted and you voted energy and we have John also and with John and my friend and my senator and our senator Raphael Warnock we are blessed two senators who make Georgia proud. Yesterday I had the opportunity to visit Crawfordville Georgia the town where my family traces its roots at least five generations. It was the town that was home to the former governor of Georgia and the vice president of the Confederate States of America, Alexander Stephens. I visited the grave of Betsy Peake, my great-great-grandmother, who was born in 1845, 20 years before emancipation. In a cemetery filled with unmarked graves, I found hers. I don't know what dreams Betsy Peek had for her children or for her grandchildren or the generations that she would never meet, but I know I am standing on shoulders made of steel. So yes, they'll produce the Confederacy's vice president, but tonight it also produced your next governor. Tonight should remind us all that no matter what community we come from, Georgia is not defined by one moment in time or by one person. It's been defined by all of us, and I will be a governor for everyone in this state. Georgia, we sent a message loud and clear that we want a leader who will put Georgia And who will stand up to all the chaos coming out of Washington, D.C. You sent the message that in these times of division and acrimony, you believe in something foundational, and that is hope. And that is why we launched this campaign 532 days ago. Over the last year and a half, I've had the privilege of traveling across Georgia, talking with people, listening to their concerns, and hearing how excited Georgians are to have a chance at something better for their families and for their communities. Those conversations anchored our campaign because this campaign has always been about the people we serve. It's about everyday hardworking people who want to be able to afford to put food on the table, to give our children the opportunities they deserve. It's about making sure our seniors can age in place with dignity. It's about ensuring that our veterans can receive the health care that they have earned. This campaign is about making sure that every Georgian, no matter their background, their zip code, has a fair chance at building a better future. And that is what I will fight for every day as your governor. This has been a long campaign. And there are many days that weren't easy and there were a lot of tough decisions to make. But my faith has reminded me that we are never to grow weary in well-doing. From Congressman John Lewis, who didn't let batons or billy clubs stop him from demanding that everyone be included in our democracy. To my Aunt Ruby Doris Smith Robinson, who organized the first sit-ins with students at the Atlanta University Center. And to our native son, President Jimmy Carter. Who made sure that Georgia invested in every school across this country and across our state and even established the Department of Education. So Georgia has always been a state where we didn't settle for what was before us, but we have always fought for better. In acts big and small, we all have the ability to shape our future. That is the legacy that we have in Georgia, it's the legacy that comes with responsibility, and it is that responsibility that I will take to the governor's office. To think about not just the path ahead, but the path that we've traveled and the stories I've heard. From the woman in Columbus who owns a child care center because she wants to nurture the next generation, to the woman I met in Atlanta who runs a mobile mammogram clinic who had her funding completely cut with guts to the CDC. I think about the veteran I met in Augusta who wants support for that small business and the teacher in Waycross who's working two jobs to make ends meet. And the student in Albany who told me that she was making choices between rent, food, and her books. Our campaign is about Georgians across this state. It has been about everyone who wants something better for our future. So Georgia, I have said over the past few days, if I were your woman, well now I am your woman, and here's what I will do. I will never, ever, ever stop loving you. Thank you, Georgia. For electing me as your governor, God bless you all, and may God bless our great state. Thank you. Governor-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms.