Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms took a big step Monday toward running for governor of Georgia in 2026, about four years after the Democrat broke Atlanta tradition by skipping a second mayoral run.

Bottoms joins state Sen. Jason Esteves of Atlanta in the 2026 gubernatorial race on the Democratic side. Multiple news outlets have reported that former Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams of Atlanta, a two-time Democratic nominee for governor, also is considering mounting a third bid for the state's highest office.

Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is positioning herself to run for governor of Georgia — a state that has become a pivotal battleground in recent elections. Bottoms, who served in former President Joe Biden’s administration,