Meet the LGBTQ Candidates for Upcoming Atlanta-area Elections
November’s ballot will feature many LGBTQ candidates for local elections. Learn more about each of the out candidates running for local Atlanta positions.
MIKE RUSSELL
Running for: Atlanta City Council President
Russell is a veteran with 28 years military experience and significant law enforcement experience. His campaign centers around issues of crime, education, and race relations in Atlanta, with a focus on public safety as “the first responsibility of government.” Learn more about his campaign at mikerussellatlanta.com.
KEISHA WAITES
Running for: Atlanta City Council, Post 3 At Large
Waites served as District 60’s representative in the Georgia House of Representatives. Her campaign for city council champions issues related to public safety, affordable housing, transit, equity and economic development, and accessibility and transparency. Learn more about her campaign at keishawaites.com.
KELLY-JEANNE LEE
Running for: Atlanta City Council, District 1
Lee is a teacher with a background in her neighborhood association whose campaign focuses on affordable housing, infrastructure, and supporting small businesses. Learn more about her campaign on Facebook: Kelly-Jeanne Lee for Atlanta City Council District 1.
LARRY CARTER
Running for: Atlanta City Council, District 4 With a background in neighborhood planning, public schooling, and community engagement, Carter hopes to “move the heart of the city 4ward for all.” His campaign includes affordable housing, public safety, and inclusive development. Learn more about his campaign at larrycartermovingforward.com.
LILIANA BAKHTIARI
Running for: Atlanta City Council, District 5
Bakhtiari is a lifelong Atlantan with experience in human rights and activism. Her campaign includes platforms on affordability, infrastructure, transparency, public safety, and transit. Learn more about her campaign at lilianaforatlanta.com.
DEVIN BARRINGTON-WARD
Running for: Atlanta City Council, District 9
A community organizer and advocate, Barrington-Ward brings past political and activist experience to his race for City Council. His campaign focuses on public safety, housing, equitable economic development, reparations, education, and environmental justice. Learn more about his campaign at wakeupatlanta.org.
ALEX WAN
Running for: Atlanta City Council, District 6
Wan has served District 6 twice previously, elected first in 2009 and then again in 2013. Now, with a background in many areas of advocacy and city government, he is running for the position again with a campaign centered around public safety, improved infrastructure, and equality. Learn more about his campaign at alexwanforatlanta.com.
COURTNEY DEDI
Running for: Atlanta City Council, District 6
Entrepreneur and OUT Georgia board member DeDi hopes, if elected, to “fight every day for a safe and economically thriving Atlanta for all people.” Her campaign focuses on issues that include safer neighborhoods and more affordable housing, as well as infrastructure: safer streets and sidewalks. Learn more about her campaign at dediforthepeople.com.
JASON HUDGINS
Running for: Atlanta City Council, District 10
Hudgins is a community leader from a military family who made his way to Atlanta from his home state of Kentucky and has built a career around training and development. His campaign centers on public safety, housing and development, equity, and transportation. Learn more about his campaign at jason4atl.com.
JEREME SHARPE
Running for: Atlanta City Council, Post 1 At Large
Nonpartisan Sharpe has experience as a realtor and planner. His priorities include housing, transportation, reinvestment in businesses, reform of bureaucracy, and rethinking law enforcement, and he has many ideas for progressive policy. Learn more about his campaign at sharpe.vote.
BRANDON GOLDBERG
Running for: Atlanta Council,
Post 1 At Large
Goldberg is a community leader, with heavy involvement in varied organizations and communities. His campaign centers the issues of civil rights and public safety, COVID-19 recovery, economic growth and equal opportunity, transportation, green space, education, and the arts. Learn more about his campaign at brandoncorygoldberg.com.
KHALID KAMAU
Running for: South Fulton Mayor
South Fulton native kamau has served on the South Fulton City Council and has had experience in the nonprofit world. His campaign hopes to use local government to counter systemic racism by increasing land ownership, increasing access to capital, and supporting entrepreneurship. Learn more about his campaign at khalidcares.com.
ANTONIO BROWN
Running for: Atlanta Mayor
Men’s fashion entrepreneur, CEO, and humanitarian Brown wants to “REIMAGINE” Atlanta. Each letter in the word REIMAGINE stands for an aspect of his campaign, including and championing issues like housing, infrastructure, improving mobility for all, and inspiring trust in public safety. Learn more about his campaign at reimaginingatlanta.com.
To learn what district you live in, visit your Georgia voter page at www.mvp.sos. ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do.