By Milton Kirby | Madison, GA | February 28, 2026
On a rainy Thursday evening in Georgia, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, now a Democratic candidate for governor, made a campaign stop at Wing Nights @ Benny Paul’s in downtown Madison. The event drew a standing‑room‑only crowd, offering Bottoms an intimate setting to share her platform, her family history, and her vision for the state.
The Madison stop followed earlier appearances in Athens as part of a multi‑city swing through northeast Georgia. Bottoms opened her remarks by grounding her candidacy in deep Georgia roots, telling the audience her family could trace its history back five generations in the state. Her grandmother was from Crawfordsville; her grandfather was born in Monroe and raised in Winder; his father was from Athens.
“I’ve served in three branches of Georgia government,” she reminded the crowd — as a judge, a city council member, and as mayor of Atlanta. She noted that her mayoral tenure included “one of the toughest times,” steering the city through the COVID‑19 pandemic.
A Message Tailored to Small‑Town Georgia
Bottoms acknowledged Madison’s unique position among Georgia’s small towns. “Madison is fortunate,” she said. “Most small towns don’t look like Madison. Most small towns are struggling in this state.”
She tied those disparities to uneven access to state and federal resources. “So much of it has to do with the resources that we are getting from the federal government, also the resources that we are getting from the state government — and in this moment, the resources that we are not getting from the Federal government.”
Madison’s hospital remains open, she noted, while many rural communities have not been as fortunate. Nine rural hospitals in Georgia have closed, she said, arguing that Medicaid expansion is essential to stabilizing healthcare access statewide.
Before Congress passed what she called the “Big Ugly Bill,” Bottoms said, 300,000 Georgians lacked access to healthcare. After the bill’s passage, she argued, premiums “skyrocketed.”
Affordability, Taxes, and Education
Bottoms highlighted affordability as a central theme of her campaign. “The affordability issue is not a hoax,” she said. “We are talking about the cost of utilities, the cost of healthcare, and the cost of living in general.”
She reiterated her interest in eliminating state income taxes, particularly for teachers, but emphasized that any tax reform must be done responsibly. “If we don’t act responsibly in how we eliminate state income taxes, then local sales taxes have to go up,” she said. “Local input is exceedingly important.”
Education also featured prominently. Bottoms said she wants to create a pathway to free technical and community college, describing it as a workforce investment that would benefit the entire state.
Record as Mayor and Vision for the State
Bottoms pointed to her record in Atlanta as evidence of her ability to deliver results. During her administration, she said, the city achieved four consecutive balanced budgets, avoided raising property taxes, and created or preserved 7,000 units of affordable housing. She also cited the creation of a child savings account for all public school kindergartners and investments in workforce development.
“If we can do it in Atlanta, in the midst of a historic economic downturn, I know that we can do even better and even more across the state of Georgia,” she said.
She also highlighted an entrepreneurial training program launched during her tenure. “I saw kids who had hustle and a spirit for entrepreneurship,” she said, adding that the needs across Georgia remain “plentiful.”
A Warm Reception in Madison
The event was hosted by Brince and Emily Benford, owners of Wing Nights @ Benny Paul’s. Brince Benford said hosting the meet‑and‑greet was meaningful for his family and business. “It was great for us to participate in democracy,” he said.
Despite the steady rain voters packed the restaurant, listening with what appeared to be intense curiosity. After her remarks and a brief Q&A, Bottoms stayed to take photos with every attendee who lined up.
Several voters, who preferred to remain anonymous, told The Truth Seekers Journal they were “excited about the Bottoms campaign for governor.”
A Shifting Democratic Field
Bottoms’ visit came one week after a Democratic gubernatorial forum featuring seven candidates. The field narrowed on Thursday when State House member Ruwa Romman announced she was suspending her gubernatorial campaign to run for the open Georgia State Senate District 7 seat instead.
The Democratic primary is scheduled for May 19, 2026, with the general election set for November 3, 2026. Voters at the Madison event said they were eager to hear more from the candidates as the race continues to take shape.
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