Governor-elect Bottoms Announces ‘Georgia Promise’ Transition Leaders

Governor-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms appoints transition team

Gov.-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms named former Atlanta official Jon Keen, Carter Center Board Chairman Jason Carter and Calvin Smyre to her transition team while making Medicaid expansion and abortion law revisions top administration priorities.

ATLANTA – Gov.-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms laid out the leadership of her gubernatorial transition team, titled “The Georgia Promise,” at a conference at the state Capitol on Friday after winning a historic election victory.

What we know:

Bottoms announced that Jon Keen, a military veteran and former chief operating officer of the city of Atlanta, will serve as chief operating officer of Georgia’s Promise.

Transition co-chairs include Home Depot founder Arthur Blank, former Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO Roz Brewer, Carter Center board chair Jason Carter, affordable housing leader Carmen Chubb, Delta Air Lines senior vice president of customer service Richard Cox, former state Rep. Jane Kidd, nonprofit civic leader Michelle Nunn, retired business executive Vicki Palmer, entertainment mogul Tyler Perry and former city equities manager Rashad Taylor.

Honorary co-chairs include Senator Harold Jones, House Democratic Leader Carolyn Hugley, Civil Service Commissioner Peter Hubbard, State Leader Philip Gelman and former State Representative Calvin Smyre.

Keisha Lance Bottoms with her transition team at the State Capitol on November 6, 2026. (FOX 5)

Other honorary co-chairs named are Thurbert Baker, Roy Barnes, David Burgess, Terry Coleman, Kathy Cox, Wyche Fowler, Joe Frank Harris, Pierre Howard, Alicia Johnson, Sam Nunn, Jon Ossoff, Tim Rowles, Mark Taylor, Michael Thurmond, Raphael Warnock and Andrew Young.

She emphasized that the nominations would include leaders from communities across Georgia rather than just from the capital.

Election conversations highlighted families’ immediate economic concerns, according to Bottoms. She plans to focus the executive’s first actions on table issues, particularly affordability and expanding access to health care.

Bottoms noted that Georgia left hundreds of millions of federal dollars on the table by refusing full Medicaid expansion.

Expanding the program remains a core goal, although she acknowledged that looming reductions in federal funding could present obstacles to state leadership.

What they say:

Bottoms noted that she has spoken with Gov. Brian Kemp, who has pledged to provide full administrative support to ensure an orderly transition.

“I spoke with Governor Kemp, we had a very good conversation. He offered to provide every resource and support possible to make this transition happen smoothly and in an orderly manner,” Bottoms said.

The outgoing governor pledged full cooperation and Bottoms said the two teams would work hand-in-hand throughout the transition period.

Speaking about his historic election, Bottoms reflected on this personal milestone.

“It’s an honor to say the least,” Bottoms said. “And my husband put it in context, he said there have been many black women in America throughout history, and God said, you will be the first. I don’t take that lightly. I believe it’s representative of the best of who we all are, that in this place, the South, with our very rich history, Georgia can break that barrier.”

She also focused on monitoring devastating flooding throughout North Georgia in coordination with Kemp’s administration and consulting with experts on the state’s data centers.

What we don’t know:

Bottoms has not yet announced the full list of agency heads, transition senior staff, policy appointees or additional co-chairs, which she said will be revealed in the coming days.

It is not yet confirmed whether Kemp will call a special legislative session to address state budget priorities before the start of the regular Legislature.

What’s next:

Bottoms said his team will announce additional co-chairs, policy appointees and senior staff across Georgia in the coming weeks, leading up to the January inauguration.

The transition team will consult with national governors and state legislative leaders to manage federal cuts and shape the next state budget.