Historic election reshapes Georgia's political future

History in Georgia. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has been elected as the state's next governor, defeating Republican Rick Jackson. Bottoms will become Georgia's first female governor and the first black woman elected governor of any U.S. state. She'll succeed Governor Kemp and take over the state's highest office in January. Tonight should remind us all that no matter what community we come from, Georgia is not defined by one moment in time or by one person. It's been defined by all of us, and I will be a governor for everyone in this state. Political polls had the governor's race in a dead heat. But Keisha Lance Bottoms pulls off with a pretty resounding win, 54% of the vote to Rick Jackson's 46%. Good day's Mark Teichner joins us live from the state capitol with more on the governor's race. Mark, good morning. Yeah, Buck, as you well know, there are elections, and then there are some elections that are a little more special, and this one certainly is. It is likely one that folks are going to be remembering for a long, long time. Georgia. To be your 84th governor. Keisha Lance Bottoms makes history. The former Atlanta mayor defeated businessman Rick Jackson in the Georgia governor's race, making her the first Democrat to win the seat since 1998. She'll be the first woman to ever serve as Georgia governor and the first African-American woman governor in the entire country. You voted and you voted and you voted with hope. Most experts thought the race would be close, but Bottoms rode the national blue wave to win by a comfortable margin. During her speech to supporters, Bottoms vowed to stand up to what she called the chaos in Washington and alluded to the more than $200 million spent by Jackson on his campaign. You've shown that no amount of money will ever... Jackson told supporters he called Bottoms and conceded the race. Tonight the voters spoke and I respect their decision. This was a hard-fought election. Keisha Lance Bottoms deserves our congratulations and our prayers as she prepares to take office. Bottoms paid tribute to the historic nature of her win by talking about visiting her great-great-grandmother's grave, who was born 20 years before emancipation. I don't know what dreams Betsy Peake had for her children or for her grandchildren or the generations that she would never meet, but I know I am standing on shoulders made of steel. The last Democrat to win the governor's race here in the state of Georgia, Roy Barnes, back in 1998. Keisha Lance Bottoms will be sworn into office come January, and a new era of politics will go in with her when she moves into that governor's mansion. Reporting live from the state capitol in downtown, I'm Mark Teichner for Good Day Atlanta. All right, Mark, thank you for that update. Democrat Josh McLaurin will be Georgia's new lieutenant governor. He defeated Republican Greg Dolezal 56% to 45%. Forty-four percent in the race for the state's second-highest executive office. Tomorrow will be our state budget, 40 billion state dollars, 40 more billion federal dollars as a moral document that we can wield to invest in working families, make child care more affordable, and make sure that behavioral health... And Georgia voters made their decision in one of the most closely watched Senate races in the country. Democratic Senator John Ossoff has won re-election, defeating Republican Congressman Mike Collins. Both candidates addressed their supporters last night with a very different message about the future. In the good days, Kim Loeffler joins us live from the Hyatt Regency, Atlanta, where Senator Ossoff held his watch party last night. Kim, good morning to you. Good morning. Well, Senator Ossoff is celebrating another six years in Washington, while Mike Collins is thanking his supporters And reflecting on his own campaign. It was a night of celebration for Senator John Ossoff after Georgia voters sent the Democrat back to Washington for a second term, with the race called less than an hour after polls closed. Georgia, you did it! Ossoff thanked his supporters, calling the election results a rebuke of President Donald Trump. And if at times these last two years... Amidst the ceaseless onslaught of brutality and indecency, you doubted whether our republic would survive. Let tonight's results give you courage. Meanwhile, Republican Congressman Mike Collins conceded, reflecting on his time in public office and thanking those who supported his campaign. The results may not be what we wanted tonight. But y'all, that's okay. Collins also praised President Trump and said his commitment to public service isn't over. I'm going to continue to serve in whatever capacity I'm afforded. And I look forward to whatever the good Lord has in store for us. As for Ossoff, he says his victory is just the beginning of the work ahead. Tonight we celebrate this victory and tomorrow we get back to work. And this victory also marks Ossoff's second consecutive victory in a Georgia Senate race. He first flipped the seat from Republican control back in 2021. Live this morning in downtown Atlanta, Kim Loeffler for Good Day Atlanta. Kim, thank you for that. In the Secretary of State race, Democrat Penny Brown Reynolds has defeated Republican State Representative Tim Fleming. Reynolds will make history as the first black woman elected to this position. She's a former Fulton County judge and will succeed Brad Raffensperger. The Secretary of State's office oversees Georgia's elections, voter registration, and business filings. When you think about all that we have been going through As it relates to the right to vote, A year ago, that a vote should be a right and not a fight. Tanya Miller had defeated Republican Brian Strickland to be Georgia's next attorney general. Now, Miller makes history as the first woman elected to serve as Georgia's top law enforcement official. Rather, she succeeded outgoing Attorney General Chris Carr. There is serious work ahead of us and I am serious about that work to make our community safe, to protect consumers and working families, to defend civil liberties and to restore confidence in the institutions that must earn the public's trust and to ensure that equal justice is more than a phrase. We have a full list of results from election night on our website, fox5atlanta.com, and scrolling at the bottom of your screen.