ICYMI: Bottoms Campaigns in Statesboro, Jesup, Woodbine, Brunswick, and Richmond Hill During Tour

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 Tuesday, August 4, 2026

CONTACT: press@keishaforgovernor.com

ICYMI: Bottoms Campaigns in Statesboro, Jesup, Woodbine, Brunswick, and Richmond Hill During Health Care Tour

ATLANTA — Last week, Democratic nominee for governor Keisha Lance Bottoms launched her Southeast Georgia Health Care Tour where she highlighted her plans to expand Medicaid and protect Georgia’s rural hospitals, and heard from Southeast Georgia residents about the issues impacting them.

Keisha held roundtables and meet and greet events in Statesboro, Jesup, Woodbine, Brunswick, and Richmond Hill.

STATESBORO

On Wednesday morning, Keisha joined a packed room of Georgians for a roundtable where she discussed her plans to support health care workers and expand the workforce.

“The state of Georgia is one of 10 states that has not expanded Medicaid in this country,” Keisha said. “What that has meant for us is that there are nine rural hospitals that have closed. There are birthing centers and ICU units that have closed. Our emergency rooms are being used as primary care offices, often making them overrun with people who otherwise may have been able to be treated by their doctors. And since the beginning of the year with the Big Ugly Bill, 500,000 Georgians have dropped their health care insurance. So a bad situation has gotten much much worse.”

JESUP

Later in the day, she hosted another discussion focused on protecting rural hospitals, expanding Georgians access to critical care, and how Georgians are driving more than an hour to their nearest hospital in Jesup. 

Keisha ended the day in Jesup with a meet and greet with Georgians, where she spoke with them about her plans to invest in education, protect Georgians’ fundamental rights, and support small businesses.

“Medicaid expansion will go a long way in helping people get covered with health insurance.” Keisha said. “Even before the Big Ugly Bill, 300,000 Georgians didn't have health insurance.” 

WOODBINE

On Thursday, Keisha started the day in Woodbine where she spoke to a standing room only crowd about her vision to guarantee pre-k for every Georgia four year old, raise teacher pay, and invest in education past high school.

“40% plus of the kids in Camden County rely on Medicaid for their health care coverage. It makes a difference when you go to that emergency room when you have to drive an hour for health care,” Keisha said. “We heard a woman yesterday just share with us that when her sister-in-law went into labor, it took them an hour and 15 minutes to get to the closest hospital. That's the difference that Medicaid expansion makes in the state.”

BRUNSWICK

Keisha then joined Georgians in Brunswick where she held a roundtable to discuss her plans as governor to expand affordable health care and make Georgia’s health care system work better for patients, families, and providers.

Keisha ended the day with more than 300 Georgians in Brunswick where she answered questions about the challenges and opportunities their communities are facing.

“We have a health care provider shortage in this state. We have a lot of committed doctors, we have a lot of committed nurses who are saying they are overworked. They are stretched thin,” Keisha said. “I think, if anything, we need to train more people for our health care system so that all of our health care professionals are able to operate at their best capacity.”

RICHMOND HILL

On Friday, Keisha joined Congressional candidates and veterans in Richmond Hill to discuss her plans to support them as governor by ensuring they have access to the health care they need.

###