5 things to know about the upcoming Atlanta elections
It’s been awfully quiet inside Atlanta City Hall lately — and that’s not just because City Council members were on summer recess.
Behind the scenes, both political veterans and rookies are gearing up for the nonpartisan November elections where both the mayor’s office and all council seats are up for grabs. Fundraisers are being held across the city and political allies are working to boost campaigns.
Here’s a breakdown of the top five things to know about Atlanta’s upcoming 2025 elections:
1. Qualifying kicks off campaign season
Candidates will flock to Atlanta City Hall the week of Aug. 19 to submit the qualifying paperwork that officially launches their bids.
Although dozens of candidates for Atlanta’s top political positions announced their campaigns months ago, the playing field isn’t formally set until the clerk’s office collects the necessary documents and qualifying fees.
That means there could be ― although we don’t anticipate ― some surprising last-minute candidates. We’ll keep an eye out for any unexpected filers particularly in the mayor and council president races.
2. Dickens seeks a second term
Atlanta’s first-term mayor and former council member shocked the city by emerging as the winner of a crowded and highly watched mayoral race in 2021.
His reelection campaign appears to be far less difficult, as he faces little threat from a handful of lesser-known candidates. According to Dickens’ most recent campaign finance disclosure report, he’s raised just under $4 million to fuel his reelection bid and has about $2.2 million cash on hand.
Only one Atlanta mayor in modern history, Dickens’ predecessor former Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, didn’t serve a second term in office — and that’s because Bottoms choose not to seek reelection.
So far, his competitors are: Helmut Love, a consultant; Eddie Meredith, a community advocate; Marcus Lamar, a financial manager, Walter Reeves, a former candidate for mayor; Larmetria Trammell and Kalema Jackson.
3. President race pits council member against newcomer
The open Atlanta City Council President seat is arguably the most interesting race to watch this year. Current Council President Doug Shipman made a surprising announcement in February that he would not run again, citing family health issues.
Not long after, longtime Council member Marci Collier Overstreet filed paperwork to run for the open seat, an expected move from the southwest Atlanta representative who has been on council since 2018.
Then in May, well-known Atlanta nonprofit leader Rohit Malhotra also entered the race for the coveted president position. Malhotra is the founder and former executive director of the Civic Center for Innovation, a policy house that often challenges Dickens administration decisions.
4. Three council districts are open races
Two Atlanta City Council members also announced they wouldn’t be seeking reelection this year. Along with Overstreet’s vacant seat, that means three spots on council have wide-open races.
The city’s budget leader, Howard Shook, is retiring after serving on the body for more than two decades. His departure leaves District 7, one of two conservative seats on the Council, open for a newcomer.
And Council member Amir Farokhi, who represents District 2, announced in February he planned on resigning to take on the role of head at The Galloway School, a private institution that serves preschool through 12th grade students.
5. Important dates for voters are coming up
Here are the most important dates for Atlanta voters to know:
- Aug. 18: First day to apply for an absentee ballot
- Oct. 6: Voter registration and change of address deadline
- Oct. 14-31: Early voting period
- Oct. 24: Deadline to submit an absentee ballot application
- Nov. 4: Election Day
About the Author
Riley Bunch is a reporter on the local government team at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution covering Atlanta City Hall. She covers the mayor and Atlanta City Council while also keeping an eye on the city’s diverse neighborhoods.
