Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms has broken a major political barrier in the United States after becoming the first Black woman elected governor of an American state.

Bottoms secured the historic victory in Georgia, defeating Republican billionaire Rick Jackson, whose campaign reportedly received more than $200 million from his personal fortune.

The former Atlanta mayor will succeed outgoing Governor Brian Kemp, who is expected to leave office in January after completing his constitutionally permitted two terms.

Her victory, projected by the Associated Press, was largely supported by strong turnout among Black voters in Georgia, particularly during the early voting period.

During the campaign, Jackson and other Republicans repeatedly criticised Bottoms’ record as Atlanta mayor, accusing her administration of failing to address crime and the city’s challenges.

However, Bottoms pushed back against such attacks, arguing that portraying Atlanta as a dangerous and troubled city was an old political strategy used against her.

The election also represents another significant moment for Georgia Democrats, who have now nominated a Black woman for governor in three consecutive election cycles.

Stacey Abrams previously carried the party’s flag in the 2018 and 2022 gubernatorial elections but lost both contests to Kemp.

Unlike Abrams, Bottoms has now succeeded in securing the governorship, making history in the process and opening a new chapter in Georgia’s political leadership.

Her election is being seen as a major milestone for Black women in American politics, marking a breakthrough in a political office that no Black woman had previously occupied through election.