The mayor instantly squashed hypothesis round her resolution, together with that her exit from the race was pushed by a household disaster, admini
The mayor instantly squashed hypothesis round her resolution, together with that her exit from the race was pushed by a household disaster, administrative scandal or attainable transfer to work for Walgreens, whose CEO, Rosalind Brewer, is a good friend of the Bottoms household. Bottoms didn’t rule out future political ambitions in her information convention nor in a letter she wrote to the Metropolis of Atlanta that was posted on-line late Thursday night. However she didn’t present any specifics.
“Whereas I’m not but sure of what the long run holds, I belief that my subsequent season will proceed to be one filled with ardour and goal,” she wrote.
The state of Georgia has moved quickly in Democrats’ route in recent times, capped off by President Joe Biden carrying the state in November and now-Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock profitable runoff elections in January that gained Democrats management of the Senate. However these slender victories have restricted the choices for increased workplace within the state. Warnock is working for a full time period subsequent 12 months, and Ossoff will not be on the poll once more till 2026. Stacey Abrams, the previous state Home minority chief and 2018 gubernatorial candidate, is broadly anticipated to run for governor once more in 2022.
“There isn’t any apparent in-state political motive to do that,” mentioned one Democrat with expertise in Georgia politics, who requested anonymity to talk candidly. “What else is there to run for?”
“She might go do one thing for Biden, no query,” the Democrat added. “However does that actually put you in a greater place? And why try this now? It’s all simply very odd. Was it going to not be the best reelection on the planet? Certain, but it surely’s not an not possible reelection.”
One other Democratic guide, who additionally requested anonymity, referred to as Bottoms a “star” and mentioned she might be part of the Biden administration or be an envoy.
“However there is no workplace to run for in Georgia proper now,” the guide mentioned.
Bottoms, 51, served as a decide and metropolis council member earlier than profitable the mayor’s race by fewer than 800 votes in 2017. Whereas mayor, she oversaw a metropolis marred by a number of crises, together with a sweeping citywide cyber assault in her first three months, final summer season’s protests following the police killing of Rayshard Brooks and a spike in violent crime throughout town.
In the course of the information convention, Bottoms mentioned that she had been contemplating her exit from the mayor’s race for “a really very long time” and that she knew as early as her first 12 months in workplace that she may not search a second time period, citing these points amongst others.
Bottoms additionally served as a surrogate for Joe Biden’s presidential marketing campaign from its early months and was later floated as a attainable vice presidential candidate or cupboard secretary — a place she mentioned she turned down to finish her 4 years as mayor. Earlier than asserting that she wouldn’t run once more, Bottoms hosted a fundraiser with Biden that she mentioned raised greater than a half million {dollars}.
“If the race for mayor had been held in the present day, I’d win this race with no runoff,” Bottoms mentioned, citing inside polling. “Simply because you are able to do it would not all the time essentially imply that you must do it. I could be mayor once more. However there’s a motive that there are elections each 4 years.”
Her departure from the race is certain to open it as much as a variety of prospects, together with a handful of metropolis council members who’ve already toyed with the concept of working or have launched campaigns. Metropolis Council President Felicia Moore has introduced her intention to run and former mayor Kasim Reed is rumored to be exploring a comeback bid.
In an announcement posted to his Twitter, Reed thanked Bottoms for her service and wished her effectively in future endeavors, however didn’t tackle the mayor’s race.
Emily Cain, the manager director of EMILY’s Record, a significant Democratic group that helps ladies for workplace, praised Bottoms’ tenure as mayor in an announcement, calling her a “nationwide instance of robust management in difficult occasions.” She additionally signaled that the group might get entangled in Atlanta’s upcoming elections and again one other candidate for mayor.
“We’re excited to see what Mayor Bottoms does subsequent, and the EMILY’s Record group appears ahead to working with the individuals of Atlanta to make sure that her tenure is adopted by extra Democratic pro-choice ladies in management positions throughout town and in any respect ranges of presidency,” Cain mentioned.
Bottoms mentioned she introduced her exit from the race early sufficient to provide a candidate who’s “not self-funded” the chance to prepare. She wouldn’t establish anybody particularly who she wish to see succeed her.
Bottoms ended the press convention saying the subsequent mayor can have plenty of points to purpose to rectify in Atlanta, together with its earnings hole, crime fee and prison justice file.