What They’re Saying: Keisha Lance Bottoms Announces Plan to Bring Down Grocery Costs

Lawrenceville, Ga. — Yesterday, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms announced her plan to bring down costs and reduce the tax burden for Georgia families on groceries, take-home family meals, diapers, baby formula, and feminine hygiene products. Georgia families face the 11th highest costs of groceries in the country — spending more of their budget on groceries than the average American.

What They’re Saying:

Atlanta Journal Constitution: Keisha Lance Bottoms proposes grocery tax relief for Georgia families

“What would Keisha Lance Bottoms do to lower grocery costs in Georgia? In this clip from the AJC's "Politically Georgia" podcast, the Democratic candidate for Georgia governor tells AJC chief political reporter Greg Bluestein about her proposal to let local governments temporarily or permanently suspend grocery sales taxes. She says the plan could provide cost-of-living relief for Georgia families while preserving local control.”

WJCL: Bottoms Plan to Eliminate Local Sales Tax on Groceries

“Meanwhile Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms was at a storefront pitching a plan to give local governments a way to suspend or eliminate their local sales taxes on groceries.”

Atlanta News First: Ga. governor race: Bottoms pushes grocery tax suspension

“Meanwhile, Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms rallied supporters inside a crowded Lawrenceville grocery store, proposing a plan to suspend local grocery taxes to ease inflation.”
“Georgia does not tax groceries, but local municipalities do. Under Bottoms’ proposal, cities and counties would have the option to permanently eliminate local sales taxes on qualifying groceries and family essentials, or temporarily suspend them when grocery prices rise significantly.”
“Her plan would establish a $250 million Local Tax Relief Stabilization Fund to protect communities that rely on that sales tax revenue.”

11Alive: Bottoms talks making groceries more affordable

“Meanwhile Keisha Lance Bottoms was in Lawrenceville, talking about how to make groceries more affordable.”

WXTX: Keisha Lance Bottoms Plan to Lower Grocery Costs

“‘People are talking about how expensive it is just to exist.’ Bottoms pitched a plan to let cities suspend local grocery taxes while firing back by calling Jackson Slick Rick over controversial state contracts.”

Capitol Beat News Service: Bottoms’ affordability plan: encourage cities and counties to eliminate their taxes on groceries

“After Republican Rick Jackson pitched cuts to income and energy taxes last month, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms unveiled her proposal Wednesday to lower grocery bills by cutting the sales tax.”
“The former Atlanta mayor said that if voters make her the first Democratic governor of Georgia in more than two decades — and the first Black woman ever — she will ask lawmakers to let cities and counties opt out, too.”
“Bottoms’ affordability plan offers local leaders two options: permanently eliminate their sales taxes on groceries and other eligible essentials, or temporarily suspend those taxes when prices rise sharply.”

GPB: Democratic candidate for governor Keisha Lance Bottoms announces plan to lower grocery costs

“In a grocery store in Lawrenceville, Bottoms proposed a policy that would allow local governments to suspend or eliminate the sales tax on groceries, baby formula, feminine hygiene products, and diapers.”
“‘It will also give the state an opportunity to provide a backstop, a temporary backstop at least for one budget cycle as the local municipalities work to balance their budgets,’ she said.”

Atlanta Voice: Keisha Lance Bottoms introduces her plan to lower the cost of living in Georgia

“Bottoms' plan, the "Local Grocery and Family Essentials Tax Relief Plan," is geared towards lowering the cost of living in Georgia by lowering the cost of groceries by taking the tax off.”
“For example, Bottoms used the suspension of gas taxes or sales taxes as an example of how the plan could work. If elected governor, Bottoms would present the plan to the Georgia Senate.”
“Bottoms added that the plan is about "moving the needle and relieving the cost burden" for families across the state.”

Fox 5: How Georgia governor candidates plan to tackle taxes and online safety

“Democratic candidate and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms outlined her economic vision inside a crowded Lawrenceville grocery store on Wednesday. Bottoms proposed a family essentials tax relief initiative that would grant local municipalities the authority to reduce or completely eliminate their grocery sales tax.”
“Bottoms pointed to existing state policy tools as precedent for her plan, comparing the concept to temporary gas tax suspensions and sales tax holidays. She noted that the proposal offers those same solutions directly to local cities and governments.”

WSB-TV: Bottoms wants to cut sales tax

“Keisha Lance Bottoms visited Gwinnett County to talk about a plan to ask local governments to eliminate or suspend sales tax on groceries with financial help from the state.”
“Since the state does not tax groceries, just local governments. She wants to set aside around $250 million to help local governments who participate. The 2026 Georgia General Election is on November 3.”