Georgia Gubernatorial Candidate Backs Men in Women’s Sports

Georgia gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms claims she would have vetoed legislation that prevents biological men from competing in women’s sports if she were governor.

“I don’t respect the government making decisions about who should compete in athletics,” Bottoms told voters during a Democratic primary debate before she clinched her party’s nomination.

The moderator interrupted her and repeated his original question, “so you would have vetoed it?” to which the former Atlanta mayor answered, “yes.”

The legislation, known as the Riley Gaines Act, was signed into law by current Gov. Brian Kemp after passing the Georgia state Legislature in 2025.

Named after former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines, who lost her title race to a biological male competing in the women’s division, Lia Thomas, the law mandates that only biological women compete in women’s sports.

Bottoms’ remarks add to her history of advocating for pro‑transgender legislation.

During her time as mayor, the Biden‑endorsed candidate signed an administrative order to designate more than 100 city‑owned single‑user restrooms, including those at Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport, as all‑gender facilities.

Bottoms also enrolled the city of Atlanta in Mayors Against LGBT Discrimination, a coalition of cities that advocates for inclusive, nondiscrimination policies at all levels of government.

Previously, Bottoms leveraged resources to help fund transgender housing and updated police standard operating procedures to enhance protective engagement with the LGBTQ+ community.

Bottoms has not signaled whether she would attempt to reverse the legislation if she became governor. If she were successful, Georgia would add to the list of states that have enacted policies allowing biological men to compete in women’s sports.

And the state would run afoul of the Trump administration.

As reported by The College Fix, the Trump administration has been cracking down on states and colleges that violate Title IX of the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause by allowing biological men to compete in women’s sports.

Bottoms will run against the winner of Georgia’s Republican gubernatorial primary runoff slated for June 26. The favorite in the race—current Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who won 38% of the vote in the May primary while his opponent trailed at 32%—applauded the passage of the Riley Gaines Act under his administration.

“Here in Georgia we are keeping our promises and fulfilling our commitments to the people of Georgia—specifically our female athletes,” the Trump‑endorsed candidate wrote in a press release. “As the father of a female athlete, nothing is more important than ensuring that the protection of women’s sports is a reality in Georgia.”