ATLANTA — With Election Day approaching, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms says Georgia families struggling with rising costs would be her focus from the moment she takes office.
In an exclusive interview with Channel 2’s Richard Elliot, the former Atlanta mayor said affordability has been the top issue she has heard about while campaigning across the state.
“The campaign is going good. It’s going to be great when we win,” Bottoms said.
Bottoms stopped by the Channel 2 Action News studios to record a Campaign Access message, part of an effort that offers both Republican and Democratic candidates an opportunity to speak directly to voters.
During her conversation with Elliot, Bottoms said reducing everyday costs for Georgia families would be one of her first priorities if elected.
Among her proposals is eliminating the state tax on groceries by giving local governments greater flexibility to remove those taxes.
“Eliminating the grocery tax, giving local governments the opportunity to do that because we know that groceries are a necessity,” Bottoms said. She added that the proposal would also apply to diapers and feminine hygiene products.
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Bottoms is facing Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson, a healthcare executive who has invested millions of dollars into his campaign.
Jackson’s campaign responded to Bottoms’ comments with a statement criticizing her record as mayor of Atlanta.
“As mayor, Bottoms raised development fees that made Atlanta less affordable, implemented soft-on-crime policies that made Atlanta less safe, and when it came time to face voters and answer for what she did, she quit,” the statement said.
Bottoms pushed back by tying Jackson to former President Donald Trump, noting Jackson has said he wants to be Trump’s favorite governor.
She argued that economic concerns, including grocery costs, have become central issues for voters.
“These tariffs are making groceries go up,” Bottoms said. “This is where my opponent Rick Jackson has aligned himself and so many other Republicans across this state.”
As political observers watch for broader election trends, some Democrats hope strong performances at the top of the ticket could help other candidates statewide.
Bottoms, however, said her focus remains on winning the governor’s race and addressing the economic concerns she says voters are raising across Georgia.
Meanwhile, Channel 2 Action News has also invited Jackson to record a Campaign Access message and sit down for an interview.
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