October 21, 2026 – Atlanta, Georgia – The Keisha for Governor campaign held a community support town hall at Friendship Baptist Church in Atlanta, drawing a packed audience. The event featured a conversation with Keisha Lance Bottoms and special guest, actress Kerry Washington. Opening remarks were delivered by former Atlanta Mayor Shirley C. Franklin and Congresswoman Nikema Williams. During her remarks, Williams emphasized the importance of the upcoming election and the value of representation within the community.
Featured guest Kerry Washington shared with the audience the story of her journey to the southern Black church experience. Growing up in New York, she was accustomed to the Northern church ways of things. However, while traveling throughout the South during various political campaigns, she encountered the vibrancy and cultural significance of the Black Church in a way that was entirely new to her.
Washington explained that the experience differed from the religious environment in which she was raised and helped renew her connection to faith and church community. She spoke about the sense of inspiration, and empowerment she found in these congregations and how those experiences deepened her appreciation for the role that the church plays in civic engagement and community building.
She concluded by encouraging attendees to make their voices heard at the polls and emphasized the importance of voter participation in the upcoming election, urging supporters to help Keisha Lance Bottoms become Georgia’s first female governor.
When candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms took the stage, she stated that she wanted her next chapter to be filled with results that would make us all better. It sound simple but it can be true.
In response to a question from the audience, Keisha Lance Bottoms addressed the challenges many small businesses are facing in the current economy. She noted that her mother has owned a small business for many years, giving her a firsthand understanding of the obstacles entrepreneurs encounter.
In response to a question from the audience, Keisha Lance Bottoms addressed the challenges many small businesses are facing in the current economy. She noted that her mother has owned a small business for many years, giving her a firsthand understanding of the obstacles entrepreneurs encounter.
Drawing on her experience as mayor of Atlanta, Lance Bottoms said she would like to establish a state division dedicated to supporting small and micro-businesses, much like the departments that administer grant programs and affordable homeownership initiatives. The proposed division would focus on businesses with zero to 25 employees, helping them access targeted resources, technical assistance, and other forms of support designed to strengthen their stability and long-term growth.
Lance Bottoms argued that while Georgia has been successful in attracting and supporting large corporations, small businesses have not always received the same level of attention. She emphasized that investing in local entrepreneurs and small business owners is essential to building strong communities and a resilient economy.
Another area of concern for Keisha Lance Bottoms was Georgia’s current education funding formula, which she noted was written in 1985 and is in need of reform. She argued that the state’s approach to funding education no longer reflects the realities and challenges facing students, teachers, and school districts today. Lance Bottoms emphasized the importance of investing in education and ensuring that schools have the resources necessary to prepare future generations for success. She also expanded the discussion to healthcare, challenging the audience to think bigger about what Georgia can achieve.
“If Georgia can be recognized as the number one state for business,” she suggested, “why can’t we also be number one in healthcare?”
Audience member Diane Cole, an Atlanta-based Realtor, asked about the housing challenges facing both the city and the state. Keisha Lance Bottoms acknowledged the severity of the issue, noting that the problem is often even more difficult in Georgia’s rural communities, where local governments frequently lack the resources and infrastructure needed to support affordable housing development.
Lance Bottoms also pointed to inconsistencies in the administration and implementation of housing policies and programs. She said these disparities can create obstacles for businesses, nonprofit organizations, and developers seeking to provide housing solutions. According to Lance Bottoms, standardizing and streamlining processes across government agencies would help organizations respond more efficiently to the state’s housing needs. She emphasized that addressing housing affordability and expanding access to quality housing would be among her priorities, arguing that a more coordinated approach is necessary to meet the growing demand for affordable homes throughout Georgia.
Lance Bottoms closed by reminding the audience of the importance of the number 21. She urged supporters to spread the message wherever they could, whether in nail salons, barber shops, group chats, churches, workplaces, or among friends and family.
She noted that just 21 votes per precinct could have changed the outcome of Georgia’s 2018 gubernatorial election, in which Stacey Abrams narrowly lost her bid for governor. Lance Bottoms used the example to underscore the power of individual votes and the importance of voter participation. Her message was clear: ‘elections can be decided by the slimmest of margins, and every vote matters.’ She challenged attendees not to repeat past mistakes by staying engaged, encouraging others to vote, and turning out in large numbers on Election Day.
Key event facilitators were: Honorary former Atlanta Mayor Shirley C. Franklin, Valerie Jackson, Sharon Campbell and Carolyn Young.
Last updated on October 26, 2026
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