Keisha Lance Bottoms

Bottoms was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 18, 1970, to Sylvia Robinson (not to be confused with the singer/songwriter and co-founder of All Platinum Records and Sugar Hill Records) and R&B singer-songwriter Major Lance.{{cite web|url=http://keishalancebottoms.net|title=Keisha Lance Bottoms|website=Keisha Lance Bottoms|access-date=January 29, 2018|archive-date=February 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208025520/http://keishalancebottoms.net/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Politics, parents and candidates with sabotaged childhoods|url=https://www.ajc.com/blog/politics/politics-parents-and-candidates-with-sabotaged-childhoods/wkgd7PjoLNOmhIqfaaXQ1N/|last=Jim Galloway|first=Political Insider|website=ajc|language=en|access-date=May 30, 2020|archive-date=June 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613182900/https://www.ajc.com/blog/politics/politics-parents-and-candidates-with-sabotaged-childhoods/wkgd7PjoLNOmhIqfaaXQ1N/|url-status=live}} She was raised in Atlanta{{Cite news|last=Shah|first=Khushbu|date=May 17, 2020|title=Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms on the Arbery killing and Biden's vice-president pick|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/17/atlanta-mayor-keisha-lance-bottoms-coronavirus|access-date=May 30, 2020|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=June 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613182830/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/17/atlanta-mayor-keisha-lance-bottoms-coronavirus|url-status=live}} and is a graduate of Frederick Douglass High School.

She earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Florida A&M University, concentrating in broadcast journalism.{{Cite web|last=Goldberg|first=Melissa|date=June 9, 2020|title=Everything You Need to Know About Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms|url=https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainment/a32811539/keisha-lance-bottoms-atlanta-mayor-facts/|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=Oprah Magazine|language=en-US|archive-date=July 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729055413/https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainment/a32811539/keisha-lance-bottoms-atlanta-mayor-facts/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|title=Who is Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms?|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/local/who-atlanta-mayor-elect-keisha-lance-bottoms/RCV7O7QTZsjwktTkQHXsXM/|access-date=July 29, 2020|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|language=en|archive-date=August 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807003141/https://www.ajc.com/news/local/who-atlanta-mayor-elect-keisha-lance-bottoms/RCV7O7QTZsjwktTkQHXsXM/|url-status=live}} She earned a J.D. degree from Georgia State University College of Law in 1994. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.{{Cite news|url=http://keishalancebottoms.com/about/|title=Keisha Lance Bottoms for Atlanta Mayor|work=Keisha Lance Bottoms|access-date=November 8, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=June 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613182914/https://keishalancebottoms.com/about/|url-status=live}}{{cite news |author= |title=Mayor Bottoms (J.D. '94): 'Georgia State Helped Create a Work Ethic In Me' |url=https://news.gsu.edu/2018/03/01/mayor-bottoms-j-d-94-georgia-state-helped-create-work-ethic |work=Georgia State University News Hub |publisher=Georgia State University |location=Atlanta, Georgia |date=March 1, 2018 |access-date=June 1, 2020 |archive-date=June 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602154758/https://news.gsu.edu/2018/03/01/mayor-bottoms-j-d-94-georgia-state-helped-create-work-ethic/ |url-status=live }}

Bottoms was a prosecutor and also represented children in juvenile court.{{Cite web|date=January 1, 2020|title=2020 Georgian of the Year: Keisha Lance Bottoms|url=https://www.georgiatrend.com/2019/12/31/2020-georgian-of-the-year-keisha-lance-bottoms/|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=Georgia Trend Magazine|language=en-US|archive-date=July 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730043640/https://www.georgiatrend.com/2019/12/31/2020-georgian-of-the-year-keisha-lance-bottoms/|url-status=live}} In 2002, she became a magistrate judge in Atlanta.{{Cite web|last=Wheatley|first=Thomas|date=May 23, 2019|title=Keisha's no Kasim: Inside Bottoms's very different City Hall|url=https://www.atlantamagazine.com/great-reads/keishas-no-kasim-inside-bottomss-very-different-city-hall/|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=Atlanta Magazine|language=en-US|archive-date=August 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831103116/https://www.atlantamagazine.com/great-reads/keishas-no-kasim-inside-bottomss-very-different-city-hall/|url-status=live}} In 2008, she ran unsuccessfully for a judgeship on the Fulton Superior Court.

Bottoms was elected to the Atlanta City Council in 2009 and 2013, representing District 11 in southwest Atlanta. She served until 2017. She was concurrently the executive director of Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority starting in 2015.

{{main|2017 Atlanta mayoral election}}

Bottoms was elected mayor of Atlanta in 2017, after receiving a plurality of votes (26%) in a crowded field of candidates on election day, then defeating fellow city council member Mary Norwood in the runoff election.{{Cite news|url=http://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/keisha-lance-bottoms-leads-in-atlanta-mayor-race|title=Bottoms, Norwood in runoff for Atlanta mayor|publisher=WAGA Fox 5|access-date=November 8, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=September 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926074410/http://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/keisha-lance-bottoms-leads-in-atlanta-mayor-race|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/mary-norwood-concedes-defeat-in-atlanta-mayoral-race/667001409|title=Mary Norwood concedes defeat in Atlanta mayoral race|work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=December 21, 2017|author=Gehlbach, Steve|access-date=January 2, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=June 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613182852/https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/mary-norwood-concedes-defeat-in-atlanta-mayoral-race/667001409/|url-status=live}} She is the sixth African American and the second African American woman to serve as mayor of Atlanta.

Bottoms was investigated during the mayoral election for several lump payments to campaign staff totaling more than $180,000 that were not reported properly.{{Cite news |url=http://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/ethics-commission-investigating-bottom-campaign-lack-disclosure/BYwLrRpEIw5YKF9AQUvLaO/ |title=Atlanta mayoral race: Bottoms campaign disclosures under scrutiny |last1=Deere |first1=Stephen |work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=January 14, 2018 |last2=Klepal |first2=Dan |archive-date=January 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115124743/http://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/ethics-commission-investigating-bottom-campaign-lack-disclosure/BYwLrRpEIw5YKF9AQUvLaO/ |url-status=live }} In October 2017, she voluntarily returned $25,700 in campaign contributions she had received from PRAD Group, an engineering contractor whose office had been raided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation the previous month.{{Cite news|url=https://www.myajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/atlanta-mayoral-candidate-return-donation-from-embattled-contractor/BOf0OJ4l7BLL8SkRhQFNZL/|title=Atlanta mayoral candidate to return donation from embattled contractor|date=October 2, 2017|work=myajc|access-date=November 7, 2017|language=en|archive-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107061441/https://www.myajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/atlanta-mayoral-candidate-return-donation-from-embattled-contractor/BOf0OJ4l7BLL8SkRhQFNZL/|url-status=live}} On November 4, 2017, she called on the attorney general of Georgia to investigate fake robocalls made in her name.{{Cite news|url=http://www.11alive.com/article/news/politics/elections/ballot/lance-bottoms-calls-on-attorney-general-to-investigate-fake-robocalls-days-ahead-of-election/85-489096441|title=Lance Bottoms calls on Attorney General to investigate fake robocalls days ahead of election|date=November 4, 2017|work=WXIA|access-date=November 7, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=July 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717011734/https://www.11alive.com/article/news/politics/elections/ballot/lance-bottoms-calls-on-attorney-general-to-investigate-fake-robocalls-days-ahead-of-election/85-489096441|url-status=live}}

Bottoms declared that Atlanta was a "welcoming city" and "will remain open and welcoming to all" following then-president Donald Trump's actions regarding refugees in the United States.{{cite web|url=http://saportareport.com/trump-enacts-ban-refugees-atlanta-doubles-welcoming-city/|title=As Trump enacts ban on refugees, Atlanta doubles down as a 'welcoming city'|publisher=SaportaReport|date=January 30, 2017|access-date=September 5, 2019|archive-date=April 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416142830/https://saportareport.com/trump-enacts-ban-refugees-atlanta-doubles-welcoming-city/|url-status=live}} In 2018, she signed an executive order forbidding the city jail to hold ICE detainees.{{cite news |title=Mayor signs executive order to remove ICE detainees from city jail |url=https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/atlanta-calls-for-ice-to-move-its-detainees-out-of-the-city-jail/828376809/ |work=WSB-TV |date=September 6, 2018 |access-date=June 23, 2020 |archive-date=June 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625045225/https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/atlanta-calls-for-ice-to-move-its-detainees-out-of-the-city-jail/828376809/ |url-status=live }} In July 2019, Bottoms said, "Our city does not support ICE. We don't have a relationship with the U.S. Marshal[s] Service. We closed our detention center to ICE detainees, and we would not pick up people on an immigration violation."{{cite news |title=U.S. Cities Prepare for Planned ICE Raids |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/07/13/741118939/u-s-cities-prepare-for-planned-ice-raids-on-sunday?t=1567683134930 |publisher=NPR |date=July 13, 2019 |access-date=September 5, 2019 |archive-date=September 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905113848/https://www.npr.org/2019/07/13/741118939/u-s-cities-prepare-for-planned-ice-raids-on-sunday%3Ft%3D1567683134930 |url-status=live }}

In February 2020, Bottoms released Atlanta's first LGBTQ Affairs report that focused on how various policies, initiatives, and programs can improve the lives of LGBTQ Atlantans.{{Cite web|url=https://atlgbtq.atlantaga.gov/BiennialReport.pdf|title=City of Atlanta, Atlanta: LGBTQ Resources|website=atlgbtq.atlantaga.gov|access-date=October 23, 2020|archive-date=October 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027164717/https://atlgbtq.atlantaga.gov/BiennialReport.pdf|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantavoice.com/articles/mayor-keisha-lance-bottoms-launches-citys-first-report-on-lgbtq-affairs/|title=Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms launches city's first report on LGBTQ affairs | The Atlanta Voice|date=February 4, 2020|website=The Atlanta Voice | Atlanta GA News|access-date=October 23, 2020|archive-date=October 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026110212/https://www.theatlantavoice.com/articles/mayor-keisha-lance-bottoms-launches-citys-first-report-on-lgbtq-affairs/|url-status=live}} In 2018, she had created the city's first LGBTQ advisory board, which included entertainer Miss Lawrence and activist Feroza Syed. In December 2020, Bottoms appointed the city's first director of LGBTQ Affairs, Malik Brown, and announced the continued LGBTQ advisory board leadership.{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantavoice.com/articles/mayor-keisha-lance-bottoms-announces-establishment-of-lgbtq-advisory-board/|title=Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announces establishment of LGBTQ advisory board|date=May 11, 2018|publisher=Atlanta Voice|access-date=December 19, 2020|archive-date=February 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202202545/https://www.theatlantavoice.com/articles/mayor-keisha-lance-bottoms-announces-establishment-of-lgbtq-advisory-board/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Latimore|first=Marshall|date=November 21, 2020|title=Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms appoints new director for LGBTQ Affairs, assembles LGBTQ advisory board|url=https://www.theatlantavoice.com/articles/mayor-keisha-lance-bottoms-appoints-new-director-for-lgbtq-affairs-assembles-lgbtq-advisory-board/|access-date=December 19, 2020|publisher=Atlanta Voice|archive-date=November 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130190556/https://www.theatlantavoice.com/articles/mayor-keisha-lance-bottoms-appoints-new-director-for-lgbtq-affairs-assembles-lgbtq-advisory-board/|url-status=live}}

Bottoms strongly rebuked Georgia Governor Brian Kemp after he announced the reopening of Georgia businesses in April 2020, saying that it was too early in the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/atlanta-mayor-rebukes-gov-kemp-decision-reopen-1500577|title=Atlanta mayor rebukes Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp for opening businesses: 'We can't sit by...while people die'|last=Rahman|first=Khaleda|date=April 28, 2020|website=Newsweek|language=en|access-date=April 30, 2020|archive-date=April 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200430084104/https://www.newsweek.com/atlanta-mayor-rebukes-gov-kemp-decision-reopen-1500577|url-status=live}}

File:Atlanta City Hall (47463933142).jpg in March 2019]]

When Atlanta experienced riots in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, Bottoms condemned those involved,{{cite news |title=Mayor, police chief denounce 'anarchists' and 'terrorists' who destroyed city; curfew begins at 9 p.m. |url=https://roughdraftatlanta.com/2020/05/30/mayor-police-chief-denounce-anarchists-and-terrorists-who-destroyed-city-curfew-begins-at-9-p-m/ |work=Atlanta INtown |date=May 30, 2020 |access-date=June 23, 2020 |archive-date=June 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609182336/https://atlantaintownpaper.com/2020/05/mayor-police-chief-denounce-anarchists-and-terrorists-who-destroyed-city-curfew-begins-at-9-p-m/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Seipel |first1=Brooke |title=Atlanta mayor condemns violent protests in fiery speech: 'If you love this city go home' |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/500237-atlanta-mayor-condemns-violent-protests-in-fiery-speech-if-you-love-this |access-date=May 30, 2020 |work=The Hill |date=May 29, 2020 |archive-date=May 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530045329/https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/500237-atlanta-mayor-condemns-violent-protests-in-fiery-speech-if-you-love-this |url-status=live }} but later expressed optimism while speaking to demonstrators at a protest, saying, "There is something better on the other side of this."{{cite news |last1=Cole |first1=Devan |title=Atlanta mayor to George Floyd protesters: 'There is something better on the other side of this' |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/04/politics/keisha-lance-bottoms-george-floyd-protests-remarks/ |access-date=June 10, 2020 |agency=CNN |date=June 5, 2020 |archive-date=June 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610022157/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/04/politics/keisha-lance-bottoms-george-floyd-protests-remarks/ |url-status=live }} She also repeatedly condemned Trump for "making it worse" and stoking racial tensions,{{cite news |last1=Duster |first1=Chandelis |title=Atlanta mayor on Trump: He should just stop talking |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/31/politics/keisha-lance-bottoms-president-trump-cnntv/index.html |publisher=CNN |access-date=May 31, 2020 |archive-date=January 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110041405/https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/31/politics/keisha-lance-bottoms-president-trump-cnntv/index.html |url-status=live }} and encouraged people to vote, saying, "If you want change in America, go and register to vote. That is the change we need in this country."{{cite news |last1=Cohen |first1=Seth |title=Atlanta's Keisha Lance Bottoms Is the Mayor and Mother America Needs Right Now |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/sethcohen/2020/05/30/atlantas-keisha-lance-bottoms-is-the-mayor-and-mother-america-needs-right-now/#599a4afc61ce |access-date=May 31, 2020 |work=Forbes |archive-date=May 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531004941/https://www.forbes.com/sites/sethcohen/2020/05/30/atlantas-keisha-lance-bottoms-is-the-mayor-and-mother-america-needs-right-now/#599a4afc61ce |url-status=live }} In June 2020, many Atlanta Police Department officers went on strike to protest the charges brought against the officers involved in the killing of Rayshard Brooks.{{cite web |last1=Brumback |first1=Kate |title=Atlanta police call out sick to protest charges in shooting |url=https://apnews.com/870f32a425b41ce391f84e1625439ebe |website=AP News |date=June 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618205801/https://apnews.com/870f32a425b41ce391f84e1625439ebe |archive-date=June 18, 2020 |url-status=live }} Bottoms said that APD morale "is down tenfold".{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/atlanta-police-department-morale-down-mayor-keisha-lance-bottoms-says/|title=Atlanta police department morale "is down ten-fold," Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms says|publisher=CBS News|date=June 18, 2020|access-date=June 25, 2020|archive-date=July 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715083524/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/atlanta-police-department-morale-down-mayor-keisha-lance-bottoms-says/|url-status=live}}

In early July 2020, as COVID-19 cases escalated in Atlanta, Bottoms issued an executive order rolling back some of its reopening measures from Phase 2 to Phase 1 and requiring everyone within the city limits to wear a facial covering, but no citations enforcing it were issued.{{Cite news|last=Journal-Constitution|first=Alexis Stevens-The Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionGreg Bluestein- The Atlanta|title=Georgia police departments report zero citations for face mask violations|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-police-departments-report-zero-citations-for-face-mask-violations/ANLOOBZL5ZBSBOGNGAU7WUA2TQ/|access-date=March 8, 2021|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|language=English|archive-date=January 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124060159/https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-police-departments-report-zero-citations-for-face-mask-violations/ANLOOBZL5ZBSBOGNGAU7WUA2TQ/|url-status=live}} On July 15, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp issued an order suspending all local mask mandates, and on July 16 he filed suit against Bottoms in Superior Court, seeking to invalidate her order and prevent her from talking about it.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/16/politics/georgia-kemp-mask-mandate/index.html|title=Georgia governor sues Atlanta mayor over city's mask mandate|last1=Stracqualursi|first1=Veronica|last2=LeBlanc|first2=Paul|date=July 16, 2020|work=CNN|access-date=July 21, 2020|archive-date=July 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721002958/https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/16/politics/georgia-kemp-mask-mandate/index.html|url-status=live}} He did not file similar suits against other Georgia cities with mask mandates, such as Savannah and Athens.{{cite news|url=https://time.com/5868613/georgia-governor-brian-kemp-face-mask-atlanta-keisha-lance-bottoms/|title=Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Sued to Block Atlanta's Face Mask Ordinance. Here's What to Know|last=Carlisle|first=Madeleine|date=July 18, 2020|work=Time Magazine|access-date=July 21, 2020|archive-date=October 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009093443/https://time.com/5868613/georgia-governor-brian-kemp-face-mask-atlanta-keisha-lance-bottoms/|url-status=live}} A hearing scheduled for July 21 was postponed when the judge recused herself.{{cite news|url=https://www.11alive.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/governor-kemp-and-mayor-bottoms-court-hearing-coronavirus-masks/85-db503a67-b946-46bc-b986-3c5e72d8f5e7|title=Judge recuses herself, hearing canceled in Kemp v. Bottoms Atlanta mask mandate lawsuit|date=July 21, 2020|agency=Associated Press|publisher=11 Alive|access-date=July 21, 2020|archive-date=July 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717011735/https://www.11alive.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/governor-kemp-and-mayor-bottoms-court-hearing-coronavirus-masks/85-db503a67-b946-46bc-b986-3c5e72d8f5e7|url-status=live}}

In May 2021, Bottoms announced she would not run for reelection in the 2021 Atlanta mayoral election.{{Cite web|last=Capelouto|first=J. D.|date=May 6, 2021|title=Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms won't run for reelection|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/breaking-atlanta-mayor-keisha-lance-bottoms-wont-run-for-reelection/AOC6CO6TKRGXDLQAZ33XWE2OEQ/|url-status=live|website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|access-date=May 15, 2021|archive-date=May 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519141308/https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/breaking-atlanta-mayor-keisha-lance-bottoms-wont-run-for-reelection/AOC6CO6TKRGXDLQAZ33XWE2OEQ/}}

File:President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris meet with Asian American leaders in Atlanta.jpg]]

In June 2019, Bottoms endorsed Joe Biden in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries.{{cite web|last=Branigin|first=Anne|date=June 29, 2019|title=Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Endorses Joe Biden for President|url=https://www.theroot.com/atlanta-mayor-keisha-lance-bottoms-endorses-joe-biden-f-1835971573|access-date=January 21, 2020|website=The Root|language=en-us|archive-date=December 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214184447/https://www.theroot.com/atlanta-mayor-keisha-lance-bottoms-endorses-joe-biden-f-1835971573|url-status=live}} After Biden promised during a March 2020 CNN debate to choose a woman as his running mate, Politico reported her as a possible pick.{{cite news|date=March 17, 2020|title=Biden squeezed on his most critical decision: His VP pick|publisher=Politico|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/17/biden-squeezed-vice-president-pick-134306|access-date=April 9, 2020|archive-date=June 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611234539/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/17/biden-squeezed-vice-president-pick-134306|url-status=live}} In June, CNN reported that Bottoms was among his top four choices, along with Representative Val Demings and Senators Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren.{{cite web|last1=Zeleny|first1=Jeff|last2=Merica|first2=Dan|last3=Lee|first3=MJ|date=June 26, 2020|title=Nation's reckoning on race looms large over final month of Biden's running mate search|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/26/politics/joe-biden-running-mate/index.html|access-date=June 27, 2020|work=CNN|archive-date=October 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009131646/https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/26/politics/joe-biden-running-mate/index.html|url-status=live}} Harris was officially announced as Biden's running mate on August 11, 2020.

Bottoms was named a permanent co-chair of the 2020 Democratic National Convention,{{cite web|date=July 30, 2020|title=Democratic National Convention Announces 2020 Convention Officers, Schedule of Events|url=https://www.demconvention.com/press-releases/democratic-national-convention-announces-2020-convention-officers-schedule-of-events/|access-date=August 3, 2020|website=2020 Democratic National Convention|archive-date=August 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804111045/https://www.demconvention.com/press-releases/democratic-national-convention-announces-2020-convention-officers-schedule-of-events/|url-status=live}} at which she was featured as a speaker.{{cite web|date=August 11, 2020|title=Democrats Announce Additional Speakers and Schedule Updates for 2020 Democratic National Convention: "Uniting America"|url=https://www.demconvention.com/press-releases/democrats-announce-additional-speakers-and-schedule-updates-for-2020-democratic-national-convention-uniting-america/|access-date=August 11, 2020|website=2020 Democratic National Convention|archive-date=August 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814232353/https://www.demconvention.com/press-releases/democrats-announce-additional-speakers-and-schedule-updates-for-2020-democratic-national-convention-uniting-america/|url-status=live}}

File:Warnock Biden Bottoms 2023 (52634234177).jpg

After Biden's election, Bottoms was mentioned as a possible candidate for United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.{{cite news|date=November 11, 2020|title=Who Are Contenders for Biden's Cabinet?|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/11/us/politics/biden-cabinet.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage|access-date=November 11, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115172328/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/11/us/politics/biden-cabinet.html?action=click&module=Top+Stories&pgtype=Homepage|url-status=live}} In January 2021, Biden and Harris nominated Bottoms for a four-year term as the vice chair of civic engagement and voter participation at the Democratic National Committee, a role focused on protecting voting rights and expanding voter participation.McCarthy, Mia (February 27, 2023). "Former South Carolina mayor replaces Bottoms at White House Office of Public Engagement". Politico. Retrieved February 27, 2023.

In June 2022, it was announced that President Joe Biden had picked Bottoms to replace Cedric Richmond as the director of the Office of Public Liaison.{{Cite web |last1=Lizza |first1=Ryan |last2=Daniels |first2=Eugene |title=POLITICO Playbook: Top takeaways from last night's big primaries |url=https://politi.co/3n7RbFz |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=POLITICO |date=June 15, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=July 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717011735/https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2022/06/15/top-takeaways-from-last-nights-big-primaries-00039739 |url-status=live }} On February 27, 2023, it was announced that Bottoms would be replaced by Stephen K. Benjamin in April 2023. On July 14, 2023, Biden appointed Bottoms to the President's Export Council.{{Cite news |date=July 17, 2023 |title=Ex-Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms appointed to Biden's Export Council |work=WAGA-TV |url=https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/keisha-lance-bottoms-former-atlanta-mayor-biden-administration-export-council |access-date=November 20, 2023}} On January 20, 2025, she was fired from office by President Donald Trump, however, Bottoms claims she resigned the day prior without announcing her resignation publicly.{{Cite news |last=Timotija |first=Filip |date=January 21, 2025 |title=Trump fires 4 Biden appointees, including his own former Iran envoy |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5097601-trump-fires-appointees/ |newspaper=The Hill |access-date=January 25, 2025}}{{Cite news |last=Lupiani |first=Joyce |date=January 21, 2025 |title=Atlanta's former mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms out of a job after Trump takes office |url=https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/atlantas-former-mayor-keisha-lance-bottoms-out-job |work=WTTG |access-date=January 25, 2025}}

On April 4, 2025, Bottoms announced that she would run for governor in 2026.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-04 |title=Keisha Lance Bottoms confirms plan to run for Georgia governor on 404 Day |url=https://www.11alive.com/article/news/politics/keisha-lance-bottoms-announces-run-for-georgia-governor-2026/85-a10b3868-06ff-417b-b8ff-34d27681b813 |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=11Alive.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Shaw |first=A. R. |date=2025-04-10 |title=Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Announces Run for Governor of Georgia |url=https://chicagodefender.com/former-atlanta-mayor-keisha-lance-bottoms-announces-run-for-governor-of-georgia/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=Chicago Defender |language=en-US}}

Bottoms' family history can be traced back five generations to Shepherd Peek, a freedman from a plantation near Crawfordville, who may have served in the Georgia state legislature during Reconstruction.

In October 1994, she married Derek W. Bottoms at Ben Hill United Methodist Church in Atlanta. They met three years earlier during their first year as students at Georgia State University College of Law. After unsuccessful attempts to conceive biologically, they adopted their four children.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/local/who-derek-bottoms-husband-atlanta-mayor-keisha-lance-bottoms/wSpFH7X4sHqZSCE5txsi0N/|title=Who is Derek Bottoms, husband of Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms?|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|first=Becca J. G.|last=Godwin|access-date=June 3, 2020|archive-date=June 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603175217/https://www.ajc.com/news/local/who-derek-bottoms-husband-atlanta-mayor-keisha-lance-bottoms/wSpFH7X4sHqZSCE5txsi0N/|url-status=live}}

Her husband is the vice president of employment practices and associate relations for The Home Depot. He joined the company in 2000, after spending more than five years at the law firm of Powell Goldstein. He has served as a board member for several foundations.

Bottoms was invited to become a member of The Links, a social and service organization of prominent Black women that was founded in 1946 and is based in Washington, D.C.{{Cite web|date=January 3, 2018|title=Keisha Lance Bottoms sworn in as Atlanta mayor|url=https://www.wtxl.com/news/keisha-lance-bottoms-sworn-in-as-atlanta-mayor/article_f4f6876c-f0aa-11e7-ab19-b77b9d49bf9c.html|access-date=February 15, 2022|website=WTXL|language=en|archive-date=February 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215135845/https://www.wtxl.com/news/keisha-lance-bottoms-sworn-in-as-atlanta-mayor/article_f4f6876c-f0aa-11e7-ab19-b77b9d49bf9c.html|url-status=live}}

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• [https://www.keishaforgovernor.com/ Gubernatorial campaign website]
• [http://keishalancebottoms.com/ Personal website]
• [http://keishalancebottoms.com/ Mayoral campaign website]{{Dead link|date=May 2025}} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614125546/https://keishalancebottoms.com/ |date=June 14, 2020 }}
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Category:1970 births

Category:20th-century African-American people

Category:20th-century African-American women

Category:21st-century African-American politicians

Category:21st-century African-American women politicians

Category:21st-century American women politicians

Category:21st-century mayors of places in Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:African-American city council members in Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:African-American mayors in Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:African-American women mayors

Category:Atlanta City Council members

Category:Biden administration personnel

Category:Florida A&M University alumni

Category:Georgia (U.S. state) Democrats

Category:Georgia State University College of Law alumni

Category:Living people

Category:Mayors of Atlanta

Category:Women city councillors in Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:Women mayors of places in Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:Members of The Links