An AJC poll has Georgia's governor race at 46-45. Can Keisha Lance Bottoms beat Rick Jackson on Nov 3?
56% of users predicted YES — the community got this one right. 9 predictions cast.
Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated Republican businessman Rick Jackson in Georgia's governor's race, with the Associated Press projecting her the winner on election night, November 3, 2026, making her the first Black woman elected governor in U.S. history, according to Forbes and Axios. Bottoms, the former Atlanta mayor, won by roughly 54% to 46% as returns neared completion.
Jackson, a wealthy businessman making his first run for elected office, had spent more than $200 million of his own money on the campaign after upsetting Trump- and Kemp-backed Burt Jones in the Republican runoff in June. The race had been rated a toss-up by handicappers including the Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball as late as October, and an AJC poll that same month showed Jackson narrowly ahead, 46% to 45%.
Bottoms ultimately overcame that late polling deficit on the strength of turnout in Georgia's population centers, while Jackson's self-funded campaign and lack of prior elected experience became liabilities down the stretch. Jackson conceded by phone on election night. The Predict Six community leaned correctly toward a Bottoms win, with 56% of voters forecasting her victory among nine votes cast, consistent with her ultimately comfortable margin despite the tight final pre-election polling.