FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 

February 19, 2026

CONTACT: press@keishaforgovernor.com

Bottoms Responds to Trump’s Threats for a State Takeover of Fulton County Elections: ‘Donald Trump and this Rogue Election Board have Made a Mockery of our Democracy’ 

ATLANTA — Yesterday, following Donald Trump encouraging a takeover of Fulton County's elections as the Georgia Board of Elections met for the first time since the FBI raid at the Fulton County Election Hub, Democratic candidate for Governor Keisha Lance Bottoms joined MS NOW's The Briefing with Jen Psaki to detail how she will “use every tool” as governor to protect free and fair elections in Georgia. 

Bottoms spoke about how she will stand up against Donald Trump’s attacks on Georgia’s elections as governor.

“This delusional belief that he somehow will find 12,000 votes in Fulton County is not based in reality, and unfortunately, we're not seeing Republicans speak up [...] I can tell you, as governor of this state, I'm going to use every tool in the toolbox — from taking Donald Trump to court to looking at the voting measures that have been passed in this state that have made it more difficult for people to access the ballot.”

Bottoms also called out Donald Trump threatening free and fair elections in Georgia.

“Congressman John Lewis was my congressman, and I saw a quote from him today that really touched my core, and that quote was that his greatest fear was that we would wake up one day and our democracy would be gone. [...] We certainly are experiencing that right now. We are witnessing this dismantling of our democracy in this state, Donald Trump and this rogue election board have made a mockery of our democracy. But what I can also tell you is that as the cradle of the Civil Rights Movement in America — what he is doing — I can guarantee you will backfire. We've seen record turnout in this state, and I know we will see it again in 2026 because people are angry. They want to fight back. And what I know is that Congressman Lewis reminded us that our right to vote is sacred. It's precious. And if we don't use it, we will lose it, and I trust that people will use it in a mighty way this November and in 68 days when early voting begins in Fulton County.”

Watch the full interview here.

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