GEORGIA — Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has been projected to become Georgia’s next governor.

The Democratic candidate defeated Republican businessman Rick Jackson in Tuesday’s Nov. 3 general election, according to election projections reported Tuesday night.

Bottoms will succeed Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who is leaving office after reaching the state’s term limit.

Bottoms, 56, previously served as mayor of Atlanta from 2018 to 2022. Before becoming mayor, she served on the Atlanta City Council and worked as a municipal court judge.

Among her major proposals were expanding Medicaid, raising Georgia’s minimum wage to $15 per hour and increasing compensation for public-sector employees.

Her Republican opponent, Jackson, is a businessman and health care entrepreneur who largely self-funded his campaign. Jackson campaigned on reducing state income taxes, increasing public-sector pay and implementing changes to Georgia’s health care system.

Georgia has never previously elected a woman to its highest executive office.