Athens, Ga — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms visited the University of Georgia on Saturday to engage with students and parents about pressing issues before the November election. Speaking to WGXA Reporter Carlos Stephens, Bottoms emphasized the importance of young voters and their concerns.
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Students expressed worries regarding access to mental health services, the implications of artificial intelligence on job prospects, and the increasing costs of living, including housing and groceries. Bottoms highlighted the need to expand mental health support not just for students, but their families as well. Addressing housing affordability, she pointed to her proposal for an expanded affordable housing trust fund across Georgia.
“It's crucial to prepare students for the workforce while ensuring they have sufficient mental health resources and a voice in decision-making,” Bottoms stated. She also reminded students to register to vote by the October 5 deadline, ahead of the November general election. Early voting starts on October 13 and ends on October 30, with Election Day set for November 3.
During her campaign stop, Bottoms positioned herself against Republican candidate Rick Jackson. She criticized his alignment with Trump administration policies, declaring, “Your vote is your voice. If you care about the future of this state, I'm your candidate for governor.”
Jackson's campaign was contacted for a response to Bottoms' statements, but no reply was received at the time of publication.
The mayor of Athens also participated in the event, endorsing Bottoms and highlighting critical issues for Georgia, such as healthcare access and economic challenges in small towns. He praised Bottoms for her experience as the former mayor of Atlanta and her contributions at the White House level.
Bottoms is competing against Jackson in the upcoming election to succeed Gov. Brian Kemp.