The Current’s Justin Taylor spent three days with the Keisha Lance Bottoms campaign to document what it looks like for a statewide candidate to work for votes outside of Atlanta in Coastal Georgia. The Democratic candidate for governor came to the coast recently, making stops in Woodbine, Brunswick and Richmond Hill. She ended the trip at the Georgia Democratic Convention in Savannah where she made her case for turnout in her run against Republican candidate Rick Jackson.

Supporters listen as Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms speaks during a campaign event at the Kinlaw Rosenwald School in Woodbine, on July 30, 2026.(Justin Taylor/The Current GA/CatchLight/Report for America)
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The former Atlanta mayor met last month with voters, health care workers and veterans as she touted a campaign message focused on mental health care access for veterans, Medicaid expansion and the challenges facing rural communities.

The events ranged from small roundtable discussions to a crowd of more than 1,000, giving Bottoms the chance to speak directly with coastal voters and build support beyond metro Atlanta.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms takes questions from the audience during a campaign event at the Kinlaw Rosenwald School in Woodbine on July 30, 2026. Credit: Justin Taylor/The Current GA/CatchLight/Report for America
(Left) Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms speaks to a young supporter during a question-and-answer session at a campaign event at the Richard “Bubba” Perry Gymnasium in Brunswick on July 30, 2026. (Right) Supporters of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms assemble campaign signs at an event in Brunswick on July 30, 2026. Credit: Justin Taylor/The Current GA/CatchLight/Report for America

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms speaks to a crowd of over 500 during a campaign event at the Richard “Bubba” Perry Gymnasium in Brunswick on July 30, 2026.
(Left) Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms embraces a supporter following a campaign event in Brunswick on July 30, 2026. (Right) Supporters gather near the stage to take photos of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms as she takes the stage during the 2026 Georgia Democratic Convention in Savannah on Aug. 1, 2026. Credit: Justin Taylor/The Current GA/CatchLight/Report for America
Supporters cheer as Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms takes the stage to address delegates during the 2026 Georgia Democratic Convention in Savannah on Aug. 1, 2026.

Supporters of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms carry campaign signs past her campaign bus in Brunswick on July 30, 2026.

Justin Taylor is a visual journalist based in Savannah. He is a Catchlight Local/Report for America Corps member. His versatile style blends elements of fine art, photojournalism, and drone photography. A...