Keisha Lance Bottoms moves closer to Georgia governor bid

Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) is moving closer toward an official run for Georgia governor after she filed paperwork Monday that would allow her to receive campaign contributions for a gubernatorial bid.

“I am honored and humbled by the encouragement I have received as I have considered running for Governor,” Bottoms said in a statement.

“I am taking an important administrative step in this journey by filing necessary paperwork to establish a Campaign Committee. I look forward to making an announcement in the coming weeks,” she added.

The former Atlanta mayor has previously said she’s considering a run for Georgia governor, but she hasn’t formally declared her candidacy yet. Gov. Brian Kemp (R) is term-limited and cannot run again.

Georgia state Sen. Jason Esteves (D) has also announced a run for Georgia governor on the Democratic side; Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) also filed paperwork that would allow her to receive campaign contributions for a gubernatorial run but paused efforts around a potential bid to focus on her the health of her husband, who is dealing with cancer.

Stacey Abrams, who’s run for governor twice in Georgia and lost, also could jump into the race.

Meanwhile, state Attorney General Chris Carr (R) has launched a run for governor on the Republican side, and state Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (R) is widely expected to enter the race as well.

The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report rates Kemp’s seat as a “toss up.”