FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 Monday, May 18, 2026

CONTACT: press@keishaforgovernor.com

Bottoms made stops across Fort Valley, Albany, Thomasville, Valdosta, Waycross, Savannah, Statesboro, and Augusta

Bottoms on MS NOW: When I’m Elected Governor I Will ‘Veto Any Maps that Attempt to Dilute Minority Participation in the State’

ATLANTA — During the second half of the “Our Rights, Our Future” GOTV Tour Keisha Lance Bottoms met with Georgians in Fort Valley, Albany, Thomasville, Valdosta, Waycross, Savannah, Statesboro, and Augusta. During the campaign stops, she discussed her Democracy First Agenda which will protect voting rights in Georgia following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana v. Callais. 

On Saturday, Bottoms appeared on MS NOW’s Politics Nation with Al Sharpton where she discussed her plan to establish new protections for voting rights at the state level, protect election workers, restore trust in election administration, and expand voting access for eligible Georgians.

“This week, I introduced a plan called the Johnson-Lewis Voting Rights Act, and it is specific to Georgia. What I can do when, God willing, I'm elected governor of the state, one will be to veto any maps that attempt to dilute minority participation in the state,” said Bottoms. “It is just about free and fair access to the right to vote, expanding eligible ID that can be used in voting, … allowing people same day voter registration, making sure that we are expanding the length of time that people have to early vote, putting drop boxes back in place, but at the end of the day, this is a reminder of why people have to vote down ballot.”

Bottoms also spoke with the HuffPost this week about Brian Kemp calling a special session to redraw voting maps after the U.S. Supreme Court made it harder to challenge racially discriminatory voting maps.

HuffPost: Democrats Think They Found The Missing Ingredient For A Wave Election

“‘We know that Sanford Bishop has been especially powerful in making sure that Georgia gets the dollars that’s needed for the agricultural community, for our HBCUs,’ she said, referring to the veteran Black congressman who represents southwestern Georgia and whose district could be drastically redrawn before the 2028 election. ‘As I’m moving around areas, people are really concerned that he may no longer have that ability.’”

During the tour, Bottoms also joined Georgians in Fort Valley for a meet and greet. On Friday, Bottoms talked to voters before they cast their ballots on the final day of early voting. She also held meet and greets in Albany, Thomasville, and Valdosta. Bottoms also stopped by two barbershops in Albany and Valdosta to talk with Georgians on Friday.

Over the weekend, Bottoms held campaign events in Waycross, Savannah, Statesboro, and Augusta.

Bottoms also made stops in Atlanta, Gay, Columbus, and Macon during the tour.

THURSDAY

FORT VALLEY

On Thursday, Bottoms joined Georgians in Fort Valley to hold a meet and greet where she discussed her plans to protect voting rights in Georgia.

41NBC: Keisha Lance Bottoms vows to fight maps she says weaken Black voting power during Fort Valley campaign stop

‘I’ll veto any maps that dilute the representation of communities across this state and then just secondly, this is the reason why it’s so important for people to vote down ballot because we have to have control of the house in the Senate for us to be able to have these fair maps,’ Bottoms said. ‘So we’re going to use every tool in our toolbox whether it be taking the Trump Administration Department Justice to court, whether it be putting forth policy legislation that can help change the tide.’

FRIDAY

ALBANY

On Friday in Albany, Bottoms talked with Georgians before they cast their ballots on the final day of early voting.

Bottoms then stopped by Helen’s Barbershop Art-Salon in Albany to talk to Georgians about the challenges and opportunities they’re facing.

Later in the day in Albany, Bottoms held a meet and greet to talk with Georgians about her plans to lower costs, expand affordable health care, and invest in Georgians’ education.

THOMASVILLE

Friday afternoon, Bottoms spoke with Georgians about her plans to support small businesses, protect Georgia’s rural hospitals, and give every Georgian the opportunity to thrive.

VALDOSTA

Later in the afternoon on Friday, Bottoms stopped by World of Fades barbershop to hear from Georgians about the challenges and opportunities South Georgia is facing.

On Friday evening, Bottoms joined a packed room at Valdosta State University to share her plans to stand up for Georgians’ voting rights, invest in education, and lower costs.

“There's an opportunity in this state — and Brian Kemp is taking that opportunity to call people back into session. We're going to hope for the best, but if there's any blueprint from Republican-led states across the country, we got to prepare for the work,” said Bottoms.  “Simply put, people like Stanford Bishop may not have a seat in Congress, minority representation in this state will be completely gutted and diluted if this state follows what other Republican-led states have done.”

SATURDAY

WAYCROSS

Saturday morning in Waycross, Bottoms joined excited Georgians to discuss her plans to invest in education, including by guaranteeing free pre-k and eliminating state income taxes for teachers.

SAVANNAH

Saturday afternoon in Savannah, Bottoms also spoke with Georgians about how she will veto any voting map designed to diminish fair representation in Georgia.

Savannah Morning News: Savannah rally protests Voting Rights Act ruling, map redraws

“Bottoms added that if elected, she would veto any map that is presented before her that would dilute the representation of minorities in the state. If a map is redrawn and approved before she’s sworn into office, ‘we’re going to have to fight it out in the courts,’ she said.”

STATESBORO

In the evening on Saturday, Bottoms joined Georgians in Statesboro to share her vision to ensure every Georgian can thrive.

SUNDAY

AUGUSTA

Sunday afternoon in Augusta, Bottoms sat down with Georgians to discuss her plans to expand affordable health care in Georgia. In April, Bottoms released her CARE Plan for a Healthier Georgia which will expand Medicaid, protect rural hospitals, and recruit and retain healthcare workers.

Later in the afternoon in Augusta, Bottoms spoke with excited Georgians about her plans to stand up against threats to their voting rights.

“I've got two voters in my house. When my 18 year old went with us to vote, what struck me was how he was standing next to my mother. And I thought when she was 18 she was fighting for her right to vote. And the fact that he is now 18, and we are fighting to protect our right to vote really tells you that the fight is never really over,” said Bottoms. “Every generation is going to have its own battle. I didn't think that was going to be a fight that I would face, or that even my 18 year old would still be fighting for the right to for free access to the ballot, but here we are.”

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