Keisha Lance Bottoms visits Warner Robins on statewide campaign tour

WARNER ROBINS – Georgia Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms made a stop in Warner Robins for her “Standing Up for Georgia” statewide tour on Wednesday, Aug. 27, for a meet and greet at the Local 987 American Federation of Government Employees office.

The office was filled with people ready to ask Bottoms questions about her campaign and stance on statewide issues. The meet and greet was hosted by the Macon-Bibb, Peach and Houston County Democratic Parties.

Bottoms previously served as Mayor of Atlanta and all three branches of government. She served as a county judge and on the Atlanta City Council for eight years.

She spent the day traveling between Warner Robins and Macon, where she worked at Channel 24. Bottoms also worked at a radio station in Atlanta and frequently traveled to Macon to conduct legal segments. The station also covered Warner Robins. She said it was good to be back. 

Bottoms said during her meet-and-greet that she is ready to listen and hear directly from attendees. She shared that when she announced her candidacy for governor back in May, she was asked why she was running. 

Bottoms woke up the day after the November 2024 election, wondering what it meant for her personally. She said she was disappointed with the results but then thought about what it meant for her family, community and state. 

She also asked herself what she was called to do during this season. She was also asked why she decided not to run for a second term as Mayor of Atlanta, to which she replied, “for everything there is a season.” She said it was a decision made from strength, not weakness. 

Bottoms said the state is ranked at the bottom for education, currently ranked at 38, according to WalletHub. One of the policy platforms Bottoms hopes to implement if elected is eliminating the state income tax for teachers. According to Bottoms, there is a teacher shortage in the state, but she aims to attract and retain the best and brightest educators because she believes students deserve the best. 

Bottoms also hopes to create pathways for college and vocational training for those who choose not to pursue a college education. She wants to work with unions to make sure children take advantage of apprenticeship programs, which pay well, Bottoms said. 

She also spoke about affordable housing, which has been a challenge in Houston County. One of her priorities is to stop corporate landlords from buying entire communities. Bottoms wants to make it possible for Georgians to afford a house. 

Healthcare has also been an issue she hopes to address if elected. According to Bottoms, approximately 300,000 people lack Medicaid coverage because the state has refused to expand Medicaid. In Houston County, 19% of residents are covered by Medicaid, and Medicaid or CHIP coverage extends to 41% of children. Bottoms said the state cannot afford to lose coverage. 

Earlier in the day, Bottoms attended a Veterans Roundtable at Turner Ragan American Legion Post 594. She heard from veterans about how the state can better serve them and their needs.

“We want workforce, we want access to workforce housing, we want access to job training [and] we want access to health services,” she said. “The state is going to have to find a way to stand in the gap because we know that the federal government is not living up to all that it should, especially for our men and women who have so honorably served our country.”

A question Bottom said she has been asked repeatedly is, “can a Black woman be Governor of Georgia?” She believes Black women can succeed in places where people don’t expect them to and excel in their jobs. She said it’s possible for them to make a difference.

“We know that when we all show up and we vote, not based on what I look like, the color of my skin or my gender but based on what I will do working with all of you to make our state competitive in every area; not just in business, but in education as well, in health services, in affordable housing and all the things that matter. We can do this together,” she said.

Bottoms said the governor’s race won’t be easy, but it will take getting communities excited about voting, especially young people. She wants young people to know not to give up on democracy just because their vote didn’t go their way. 

Bottoms then opened the floor for questions, and hands instantly went up. Questions ranged from recruiting teachers and mental health services to maternal healthcare and homelessness.

Recruiting teachers

A current educator spoke during the event, saying teacher recruitment is critical in the state. He asked Bottoms what she plans to do to help with recruitment. 

Bottoms believes the state needs to start examining how it trains its teachers and make it more affordable for teachers to receive training within the state. She also believes that there should be relief for people entering the teaching profession. Bottoms said she would like to see junior colleges be free for anyone who wishes to pursue a degree. 

“I think there’s a wide range in things we can do to make it easier for our teachers to enrich our kids,” she said.

Mental Health

Another attendee then asked a question about mental health for veterans and discrimination against people with service dogs. The woman said she faces a lot of discrimination due to having a service dog. She asked Bottoms how people with mental disabilities can be assisted. The attendee is also an advocate for people with service animals and asked what can be done to help homeless people with service animals receive shelter. 

Bottoms said there is a role the state can and should play. She shared that in Atlanta, they provided housing for veterans, which is something being pushed to be done statewide. Bottoms said they want to provide housing for people in need, including those experiencing substance abuse and LGBTQ+ youth who can’t find housing. She said they have to specialize in housing so there’s a place for people with service animals can receive the services they need. 

“We’ve got to make sure that our counties are funded not just to provide screenings on breast cancer or prostate cancer, which are all very important, but mental health screenings are important as well,” she said.

Bottoms believes it is important to normalize discussion around mental health. When mental health challenges are mentioned, especially in the African American community, people aren’t open about discussing those challenges. She wants to make sure the state partners with providers in counties and nonprofit organizations. Bottoms said she wants to ensure they have the support they need to enter their communities, engage in those conversations, and make the proper referrals to access the services they require. 

Maternal Healthcare

An attendee specifically spoke about maternal healthcare, stating that the state ranks low. She said, especially for Black women, maternal mortality rates are “off the charts.” According to the Commonwealth Fund, Georgia was ranked 45 in their 2025 state rankings. She said the Maternal Mortality Review Board had been disbanded and asked Bottoms if she was willing to reinstate it. 

Bottoms said she would absolutely put it back into place. She said the board was disbanded after reports of women who had died after complications related to abortions. 

“We can’t hide from the truth. Our numbers are amongst the lowest in the nation. African American women, especially, are a target,” she said. 

Another challenge is that approximately half the counties in the state don’t have access to OBGYNs. Bottoms plans to expand and make OBGYNs and pediatricians available in counties throughout the state. 

Homelessness

Warner Robins Councilman Derek Mack was also present at the event. He said the unhoused community is growing throughout the state. He mentioned communities like Warner Robins and Macon are suffering from homelessness and seeing a rise in camps. He shared that a lot of it is associated with mental illness, and there is a need for transition centers. Mack asked what Bottoms plans to do on a state level and her plan to mitigate the issue.

Bottoms said Atlanta experienced this issue, and their best success came through partnerships. One of their partners was the Blank Foundation, owned by Arthur Blank, who also owns the Atlanta Falcons. The foundation helps provide supportive housing for veterans. She also mentioned that they have partnered with government entities and emphasized the need to do what they can to provide support. 

“That’s how we were able to be so successful in Atlanta, putting programs in place that we could support our affordable housing providers and we need more workforce housing as well,” she said.

Bottoms shared that there is often a negative connotation attached to affordable housing, but said the reality is that working people struggling to make ends meet are the ones who need it. She said she will start by looking at the state’s funding, which is approximately a $15 billion surplus, and begin allocating those resources. She said they will also determine if they are being a good partner to attract partners and address those issues.

Working with legislation

An attendee then asked Bottoms how she plans to bring together the Republican and Democratic parties to achieve legislation and action in her first year, if elected.

Bottoms said she is going to work with whoever is willing to work on behalf of the people of Georgia. She mentioned she has worked with current Governor Brian Kemp despite their disagreements. Bottoms said she is willing to make friends wherever she can.

To find out more about Bottoms and her campaign, visit her website here. 

The Georgia Gubernatorial Election will be on Nov. 3, 2026.