Democrats Esteves, Bottoms tout $1M+ fundraising hauls in governor’s race
Gov. Brian Kemp is leaving office in 2026, resulting in one of the nation’s most-watched gubernatorial campaigns.
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Two of the four announced Democrat Georgia gubernatorial hopefuls said they have raised virtually the same amount of money in their bids to become the state’s 84th chief executive next year.
State Sen. Jason Esteves (D-Atlanta) and former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms both said they have raised about $1.1 million over the last couple of months ahead of the July 8, 2025, fundraising deadline report.
Bottoms’ campaign manager, Ned Miller, said his candidate “has seen major support from grassroots donors, with nearly 7,100 donors, 92% of whom donated less than $100.” He also said the campaign enters the second half of 2025 with $1 million in cash on hand.
Esteves — who has been endorsed by several Atlanta state legislators, city councilors, school board members and unions — said 85% of his contributions are coming from in-state donors from all 14 congressional districts, with 99% of donations from individual contributions.
Local pastor and businessman Olu Brown is also running for governor as a Democrat. Also running is state Rep. Derrick Jackson, D-Tyrone.
Democrat Michael Thurmond, a former DeKalb County CEO, state lawmaker and Georgia labor commissioner, has been rumored to be considering a gubernatorial run.
U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, a Democrat, filed paperwork to form a committee that would help her hire staff and raise money for a potential governor’s race in early March. But she suspended her bid a few weeks later, citing her husband’s cancer diagnosis.
On the GOP side, only Attorney General Chris Carr has announced a bid for governor. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is widely expected to enter the race.
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has also been rumored to be mulling a bid, as is U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, who recently declined to challenge Democrat U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff in his 2026 reelection bid.
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