Historic Night in Georgia

Special election edition, Nov. 4, 2026

We had a late night digesting how Georgia became the first state ever to elect a Black woman governor — and how Coastal Georgia voters shook up our status quo locally. At sunrise Wednesday, here’s what we know from unofficial vote tallies.

POLITICS

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 Credit: Justin Taylor/The Current GA/CatchLight/Report for America

Black Georgians make history

Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms has made history as the first Black woman to be elected governor of Georgia, defeating Republican businessman Rick Jackson on Tuesday and flipping the top job in the Peach State.

That’s not all: Tuesday’s unofficial vote totals show that nearly all of Georgia’s key state positions, from Secretary of State to Agriculture Commissioner, will be led by Black women come 2027.

It’s a stunning turnaround, considering the last eight years under outgoing Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. And the fact that Bottoms’ opponent outspent her by roughly $200 million.

The former Atlanta mayor addressed the future — and the wariness some Georgians might have with her victory. “Let’s choose hope over fear, progress over division, and come together to build a better Georgia for everyone,” she said.

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Stephanie Burgess Credit: campaign website

Local state House races: A new Democratic face

Longtime local state legislators from Coastal Georgia also felt the brunt of an anti-establishment wave from voters.

Savannah lawyer Stephanie Burgess appears to have defeated Ron Stephens in the House District 164 race, a seat that represents parts of Chatham and Bryan counties.

At midnight, the race had not been called officially, but Stephens said he felt defeat was likely. The pharmacist from Richmond Hill who has been a state lawmaker for almost 30 years, told The Current he fell victim to the rapidly growing communities with more diverse residents, The newcomers, he said, don’t share the conservative values of traditional Georgia.

“Whenever you grow that fast it’s a good news-bad news thing,” he said. “The final numbers aren’t in yet but its pretty apparent that they traditional Republican didn’t show up.”

Meanwhile, David Dillie, the 24-year-old pipefitter who works at Gulfstream, appears to have defeated Republican veteran Bill Hitchens for House District 161, which represents parts of Effingham and Chatham counties. Effingham County was still tabulating votes at midnight, but Dillie ran up vote totals in districts representing Pooler and Port Wentworth.

State Sen. Ben Watson, a close ally of outgoing Gov. Brian Kemp, appears to have kept his District 1 seat despite a tough challenge from first-time candidate Corey Foreman, a U.S. Army veteran.

Matthew McClain, 50, voted at the Rothwell Baptist Church in Pooler on Nov. 3, 2026. Credit: Adithi Vimalanathan/ The Current GA

Voice of the People: It was about the economy

The Current‘s reporters spread out across Coastal Georgia to ask voters what issues were driving them to vote. Plenty said gas prices, and grocery prices.

One of those was Matthew McClain, 50, who is a senior operations manager with Amazon and lives in Richmond Hill.

“I work with a lot of folks that are struggling to pay their bills, to make ends meet. The cost of living, inflation has caused people a lot of issues,” he said. “I just want to do my small part to try to help out… to hopefully bring some relief.”

Other voters said they voted for candidates who shared their conservative values. Still more said they felt threats to the Voting Rights Act by pushed them to the ballot.

Read our compendium of Coastal Georgia voters voices here.

A poll worker hands a voter their ballot card at the Wilmington Island Presbyterian Church on Nov. 2, 2026. Credit: Justin Taylor/The Current GA/CatchLight/Report for America

Behind the scenes: How votes are tallied.

Ninety minutes after Georgia polling places closed, the process of counting votes kicked off at the headquarters of the Chatham County Elections Board.

Like every election, the count from the county’s 88 precincts presents a logistical challenge. But the choreography of well-trained professionals presented a portrait of quiet diligence and professionalism.

Craig Nelson takes readers behind the scenes at Chatham County’s election headquarters to show just how every vote matters — and how ballot counting is secure and safe.