FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 

January 29, 2026

CONTACT: press@keishaforgovernor.com

Bottoms: ‘To Go After a Government in this Way Really is an Abuse of Power’

ATLANTA — Today, Democratic candidate for Governor Keisha Lance Bottoms appeared on MSNOW’s Morning Joe, calling out the Trump Administration for “abuse of power” and “an effort to take away that right to vote,” following reports of the FBI conducting a raid at the Fulton County Election Hub and Operation Center. Bottoms served as Mayor of Atlanta during the 2020 election. 

“We know that there are corporations that are sometimes criminal defendants. Sometimes there are individuals who are criminal defendants, but to go after a government in this way really is an abuse of power,” Bottoms said during the interview.

Bottoms also highlighted the Trump Administration using Georgians’ tax dollars to manufacture election conspiracy theories.

“I am deeply troubled. I have been an attorney for over 30 years. I had an opportunity to serve as a pro hac magistrate judge in Fulton County, and what I am seeing is something that I've never experienced in my lifetime,” Bottoms continued. “And what we are seeing happening and playing out in Fulton County right now is an effort to take away that right to vote, to take away our ability to trust in free and fair elections. There have been victims. In this case, victims like the Fulton County workers who were terrorized by Rudy Giuliani and these false narratives around votes in Fulton County. And you know, unfortunately, Donald Trump did project to us what he would do. He said this would be a term of retribution, and unfortunately, we are seeing it play out in real time.”

Bottoms also spoke about her record of standing up for Georgia’s values against ICE abuses during the first Trump Administration.

“When ICE is being irresponsible, then we as leaders have to respond accordingly,” Bottoms said. “As Mayor during the family separation crisis, when I could not get reassurances from the Trump Administration that ICE would not separate families and detain them in our city detention center, I made the decision to end our relationship with ICE.”

During the interview Bottoms also made clear that, as governor, she will be focused on making Georgia more affordable — including lowering healthcare costs.

“Every single stop that I've made in the state, the issue of affordability has come up, whether it's utility prices or healthcare. Georgia is one of nine states that have not expanded Medicaid. So even before the Big, Ugly Bill, we already had a health care crisis in the state. We've had nine rural hospitals close. With the ACA subsidies being taken away, one and a half million Georgians have seen their premiums skyrocket,” Bottoms continued. “I have a very close friend who owns a small business, their premiums were around $650 a month for her family, she told me they've gone up to over $2,200 a month. This is happening, and it's playing out across the state. I've talked with several voters who have experienced this. We have birthing centers that have closed. We have an ICU unit that is closed in this state. So it's a concern for people throughout the state, whether you are a Medicaid recipient, a small business owner, someone who's relied on these subsidies, affordability is on the ballot. So when I hear Donald Trump say that it's a hoax, clearly he doesn't exist in reality, it's what people are concerned about, and it's the number one issue on the ballot.”

Watch the full interview here.

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