Keisha Lance Bottoms is a former mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, serving from 2018 to 2022. Prior to her mayoralty, she served on the Atlanta City Council. Bottoms gained national recognition during her tenure and later joined the Biden administration as a senior advisor and director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. She also held the position of vice chair of civic engagement and voter protection at the Democratic National Committee. Currently, Bottoms serves on the President's Export Council.
1946: Founding of The Links
The Links, a social and service organization for prominent Black women, was established in 1946.
January 18, 1970: Birth of Keisha Lance Bottoms
Keisha Lance Bottoms was born on January 18, 1970.
October 1994: Keisha Lance Marries Derek W. Bottoms
Keisha Lance married Derek W. Bottoms in October 1994 at Ben Hill United Methodist Church in Atlanta.
1994: Keisha Lance Bottoms Earns Law Degree
Keisha Lance Bottoms graduated with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Georgia State University College of Law in 1994.
2000: Derek W. Bottoms Joins The Home Depot
Derek W. Bottoms, Keisha Lance Bottoms' husband, started working at The Home Depot in 2000.
2002: Keisha Lance Bottoms Becomes Magistrate Judge
In 2002, Keisha Lance Bottoms began serving as a magistrate judge in Atlanta.
2008: Keisha Lance Bottoms Unsuccessful in Fulton Superior Court Judgeship Bid
Keisha Lance Bottoms ran for a judgeship on the Fulton Superior Court in 2008 but was not successful.
2009: Keisha Lance Bottoms Elected to Atlanta City Council
Keisha Lance Bottoms was elected to the Atlanta City Council in 2009, representing District 11 in southwest Atlanta.
2013: Keisha Lance Bottoms Re-elected to Atlanta City Council
Keisha Lance Bottoms was re-elected to the Atlanta City Council in 2013.
2015: Keisha Lance Bottoms Leads Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority
Keisha Lance Bottoms took on the role of executive director of the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority in 2015.
October 2017: Keisha Lance Bottoms Returns Campaign Contributions
Keisha Lance Bottoms voluntarily returned $25,700 in campaign contributions from PRAD Group in October 2017.
November 4, 2017: Keisha Lance Bottoms Requests Investigation into Fake Robocalls
On November 4, 2017, Keisha Lance Bottoms requested the attorney general of Georgia to investigate fake robocalls made using her name.
2017: Keisha Lance Bottoms Makes History as First African American Woman Mayor of Atlanta
Following a runoff election victory in 2017, Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first African American woman to serve as the mayor of Atlanta.
2017: Keisha Lance Bottoms Elected as Mayor of Atlanta
Keisha Lance Bottoms was elected as the mayor of Atlanta in 2017.
2017: Keisha Lance Bottoms' Tenure on Atlanta City Council Ends
Keisha Lance Bottoms' time on the Atlanta City Council concluded in 2017.
2018: Keisha Lance Bottoms Becomes 60th Mayor of Atlanta
In 2018, Keisha Lance Bottoms began her tenure as the 60th mayor of Atlanta, Georgia.
2018: Keisha Lance Bottoms Bars City Jail from Holding ICE Detainees
In 2018, Keisha Lance Bottoms signed an executive order to prohibit the city jail from holding detainees for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
2018: Keisha Lance Bottoms Establishes Atlanta's First LGBTQ Advisory Board
Keisha Lance Bottoms established Atlanta's first LGBTQ advisory board in 2018.
June 2019: Keisha Lance Bottoms Endorses Joe Biden for President
In June 2019, Keisha Lance Bottoms publicly endorsed Joe Biden in his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.
July 2019: Keisha Lance Bottoms Affirms Atlanta's Stance Against ICE
In July 2019, Keisha Lance Bottoms publicly stated that the city of Atlanta does not support ICE and would not cooperate with immigration enforcement actions.
February 2020: Keisha Lance Bottoms Releases Atlanta's First LGBTQ Affairs Report
Keisha Lance Bottoms released Atlanta's first LGBTQ Affairs report in February 2020, aiming to address the needs of LGBTQ Atlantans.
March 2020: Keisha Lance Bottoms Considered as Potential Vice Presidential Candidate
Following Joe Biden's pledge to select a woman as his running mate, Keisha Lance Bottoms was considered as a potential candidate in March 2020.
April 2020: Keisha Lance Bottoms Criticizes Early Reopening of Georgia Businesses Amidst Pandemic
Keisha Lance Bottoms publicly disagreed with Georgia Governor Brian Kemp's decision to reopen businesses in April 2020, deeming it premature during the COVID-19 pandemic.
June 2020: Keisha Lance Bottoms Addresses Atlanta Riots and Police Strike
During the June 2020 riots in Atlanta following the murder of George Floyd, Keisha Lance Bottoms condemned the violence but also expressed hope for a better future while speaking to protesters. She also faced a strike by Atlanta Police Department officers protesting charges against officers in the Rayshard Brooks case, leading to low morale within the department.
July 2020: Keisha Lance Bottoms Issues Mask Mandate, Faces Legal Challenge from Governor Kemp
In July 2020, as COVID-19 cases increased, Keisha Lance Bottoms issued an executive order for a mask mandate in Atlanta. This action was met with a lawsuit from Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, who sought to overturn the mandate and prevent her from publicly discussing it.
August 11, 2020: Kamala Harris Announced as Joe Biden's Running Mate
Kamala Harris was officially announced as Joe Biden's running mate on August 11, 2020.
December 2020: Keisha Lance Bottoms Appoints First Director of LGBTQ Affairs
In December 2020, Keisha Lance Bottoms appointed Malik Brown as Atlanta's first director of LGBTQ Affairs.
2020: Keisha Lance Bottoms Serves as Co-Chair of Democratic National Convention
Keisha Lance Bottoms was appointed as a permanent co-chair for the 2020 Democratic National Convention and also delivered a speech at the event.
January 2021: Keisha Lance Bottoms Nominated for DNC Vice Chair Role
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris nominated Keisha Lance Bottoms for the position of vice chair of civic engagement and voter participation at the Democratic National Committee in January 2021.
May 2021: Keisha Lance Bottoms Declines to Seek Re-election as Atlanta Mayor
In May 2021, Keisha Lance Bottoms announced her decision not to run for another term as the mayor of Atlanta in the upcoming election.
June 2022: Keisha Lance Bottoms Joins Biden Administration
Keisha Lance Bottoms joined the Biden administration as a senior advisor and director of the White House Office of Public Engagement in June 2022.
June 2022: Keisha Lance Bottoms Selected to Lead White House Office of Public Liaison
Keisha Lance Bottoms was chosen by President Joe Biden to head the Office of Public Liaison in June 2022, taking over from Cedric Richmond.
February 2023: Keisha Lance Bottoms Leaves White House Position
In February 2023, Keisha Lance Bottoms ended her service as the director of the White House Office of Public Engagement.
February 27, 2023: Keisha Lance Bottoms to Be Replaced in White House Role
On February 27, 2023, it was announced that Keisha Lance Bottoms would be succeeded by Stephen K. Benjamin in her White House position.
April 2023: Stephen K. Benjamin Assumes Role as Director of the Office of Public Liaison
Stephen K. Benjamin assumed the role of director of the Office of Public Liaison in April 2023, succeeding Keisha Lance Bottoms.
July 14, 2023: Keisha Lance Bottoms Appointed to President's Export Council
On July 14, 2023, President Biden appointed Keisha Lance Bottoms to serve on the President's Export Council.