Who is running for mayor of Atlanta in 2021?

Incumbent Keisha Lance Bottoms' May 7 announcement that she wouldn't seek a second term as Atlanta mayor opened the field for candidates looking to succeed her in the city's top office. Here's a look at who's running. Photo: Tyson Horne / AJC

ANTONIO BROWN -- Elected in 2019, Brown represents Atlanta City Council District 3, which includes Vine City, English Avenue and Atlantic Station. Since being on Council, Brown has taken on somewhat of an anti-establishment posture, advocating for progressive ideals. He proposed hiring a Public Safety Commissioner and a “non Emergency response unit” to handle mental health situations so that officers can focus more on violent crime. Brown is currently under indictment on several federal fraud charges. Prosecutors say the councilman lied about his income on applications to obtain loans and credit cards used for personal purchases. All of the alleged incidents occurred years before he won the council seat in 2019. As of July 2021, Brown has raised nearly $310K for his campaign. Text: Wilborn P. Nobles III / AJC. Photo: AJC File.

ANDRE DICKENS -- Post 3 At-Large member of Atlanta City Council since being elected in 2013. Dickens, who currently chairs the City Council’s transportation committee, is credited with proposing the idea to create what is now the Atlanta Department of Transportation. He also championed the “inclusionary zoning” policy for the Beltline, which ensures new development includes some affordable housing, and sponsored an ordinance to regulate Atlanta’s short-term rental properties earlier this year. As of July 2021, Dickens has raised nearly $590K for his campaign. Text: J.D. Capelouto / AJC. Photo: Bob Andres / AJC.

KIRSTEN DUNN -- Dunn is a real estate investor, optician, serial entrepreneur, and author. She wants to address crime in part by using the CeaseFire initiative, which deploys social service workers, former criminals and crime victims in communities heavily afflicted by gun violence. Dunn spent five years in prison after a 2002 fraud conviction. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

NOLAN ENGLISH -- English is a pastor and president of the Traveling Grace Ministries who wants to “eradicate homelessness,” “fix the economy,” and repair potholes. He’s an army veteran with an array of experience as an environmental safety & compliance officer, a juvenile treatment specialist, an “advocate for the homeless,” “social entrepreneur,” football coach, life coach and counselor. (Courtesy of Nolan English)

SHARON A. GAY -- Senior counsel in public policy practice for Dentons, a multinational entity that is the world’s largest law firm by number of lawyers and offices. Prior to joining Dentons, Gay served as vice president of governmental affairs for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, according to her biography. She is also a former deputy chief of staff and executive counsel to former Atlanta mayor Bill Campbell. She previously clerked for United States District Court Judge Horace Ward and Georgia Court of Appeals Chief Judge Jack Sognier. As of July 2021, Gay has raised $1.1 million for her campaign. Text: Wilborn P. Nobles III / AJC. Photo: Ben Gray for the AJC.

MARK HAMMAD -- Hammad said he wants to ensure repeat and violent offenders are serving their jail time in Atlanta. He also wants to restore city services, the infrastructure, and address homelessness with a “housing-first” policy. He wants to review every department to eliminate any “waste, fraud, and abuse within the city” that’s expending funds that can be used to serve residents. Hammad previously worked for the infrastructure firm HNTB. (Courtesy of Mark Hammad)

KENNY HILL -- Hill is a Home Depot 30-year career retiree, nonprofit and faith leader, and small business owner. He and his wife founded The Launchpad Foundation to provide housing, life skills and career training to the homeless. Hill wants to invest in officer retention and hiring to maintain 2,000 officers. (Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

REBECCA KING -- King, a Buckhead-based businesswoman, is the CEO of insurance documentation firm Cover Your Assets. She serves in five different organizations, including her Neighborhood Planning Unit, Livable Buckhead, and the North Buckhead Association. She wants to hire a new police chief and she wants to expand the Pre Arrest Diversion program to 24/7 service. (Special to the Journal-Constitution)

FELICIA MOORE -- Atlanta City Council president since 2018. Previously served as City Council District 9 representative from 1998-2018. In 2011, Moore worked to bring labor unions, pension boards and employee groups together during the city's pension reform effort. A licensed real estate broker, she lives in the historic Collier Heights community and is a former neighborhood planning unit leader in the area. Moore becomes the sixth consecutive council president to run for mayor. As of July 2021, Moore has raised nearly $727K for her campaign. Text: J.D. Capelouto / AJC and citycouncil.atlantaga.gov. Photo: Alyssa Pointer / AJC.

KASIM REED -- Served as Atlanta mayor from 2010-18. Oversaw a development boom in the city, including construction of Mercedes-Benz Stadium and refurbishment of State Farm Arena. A federal corruption investigation began during his tenure and ensnared several members of his administration, including bribery convictions against his chief procurement officer and a deputy chief of staff. In a May 2021 interview with Channel 2, Reed said authorities have never accused him of corruption and apologized for the now years-long investigation, which is ongoing. Becomes the first mayor since Maynard Jackson to seek a third term in office. As of July 2021, Reed has raised $1.06 million for his campaign. -- Text by Wilborn P. Nobles III / AJC. Photo: WSB-TV.

WALTER REEVES -- Reeves is an Athens native who calls himself a “legal scholar” with “blue-collar street cred.” He wants to find the right people to address crime and he wants officers to receive training from federal and international law enforcement programs. (Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

ROOSEVELT SEARLES III -- Searles is a 24-year-old who was previously homeless, but he also started a lawn care company as well as a website design and business coaching company. He wants to push companies to increase wages. Searles is also proposing a “100 day” crime that includes the creation of several public safety accountability boards, audits of every city department, stronger code enforcement, up tp 100 city-owned drones, daily “gun sweeps,” limits on city fees, and a possible curfew for minors under 16, among other ideas. (Wilborn Nobles/Atlanta Journal Constitution)

RICHARD WRIGHT -- Wright owns “Accounting Done Wright CPA” and promised to address systemic crime and wealth inequality with people-first, pro-business policies. Wright said officers deserve more bonuses and pay raises. He promised to work with banks to modify home loan applications, and he wants to use city reserves to keep longtime residents in their homes.. (Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@ajc.com)

GLENN WRIGHTSON -- Wrightson said Atlanta should provide a “safety net.” He wants to use the mayor’s office to pressure schools to improve in quality to address income inequality. Wrightson also wants to eliminate plastic grocery bags and restrict gas-powered leaf blowers. He wants to increase recycling efforts and shredding tires to make our asphalt for street resurfacing. (Special to the Journal-Constitution)

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Credit: Tyson Horne / Tyson.Horne@ajc.com

Incumbent Keisha Lance Bottoms' May 7 announcement that she wouldn't seek a second term as Atlanta mayor opened the field for candidates looking to succeed her in the city's top office. Here's a look at who's running. Photo: Tyson Horne / AJC

By AJC Staff

Updated June 9, 2021

With the unexpected news that Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms won’t run for reelection, there is renewed interest in who is running and who might run for the seat this fall.

Four years ago, 11 candidates vied to replace two-term Mayor Kasim Reed, a race that cost over $10 million.

After weeks of rumors swirling that Reed might run again for his old post, he filed paperwork on June 8 for a mayoral election bid, two days before a fundraiser planned on his birthday.

City Council President Felicia Moore and attorney Sharon Gay launched campaigns for mayor earlier this year, and Council members Antonio Brown and Andre Dickens have also joined the race.

Photos: Meet the candidates for mayor of Atlanta in 2021

Election Day is in November.

ATLANTA ELECTION NEWS

Former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed files paperwork to run for mayor

Atlanta Council President Felicia Moore launches campaign for mayor

Atlanta City Councilman Antonio Brown joins mayoral race

Attorney Sharon A. Gay sets up run for mayor

Atlanta City Councilman Andre Dickens announces run for mayor

Mary Norwood running for open Atlanta City Council seat this year

Crime dominates the first forum for Atlanta mayoral candidates

About the Author

AJC Staff