Keisha Lance Bottoms Claims Victory As Atlanta’s Second African American Woman Mayor

Photo credit: AP Photo/John Bazemore 

On Tuesday night, Democratic candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms was elected as the 60th mayor of the city of Atlanta and the second African American woman to hold the position. Shirley Franklin was the first woman mayor of Atlanta and the first African American woman to be elected mayor of a Southern city.

Bottoms, a graduate of Florida A&M University and Georgia State University College of Law, defeated her opponent, Independent candidate Mary Norwood by a margin of less than one percent (759 votes).  

With that being so, Norwood has requested a recount. Nevertheless, Bottoms has claimed her victory, declaring at an election-night watch party: “For all the little girls out there, who need somebody to believe that you’re better than your circumstances, I want you all to remember that Black Girl Magic is real.”  

Yes, indeed. Congratulations Mayor-Elect Bottoms!