With the pandemic and widespread protests against racism and police brutality, Bottoms has gained national prominence and appeared regularly on cable news panels. The mayor is often listed as a top candidate for Biden’s vice presidential election, along with Senator Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) And former national security adviser Susan Rice.
When protests erupted after George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, Bottoms herself participated in peaceful protests. And in April, she was put in the spotlight when she criticized Governor Brian Kemp’s push to reopen Georgia’s economy, saying he could not support his decision as mayor of the state’s densest city and that the move put residents at risk.
“You may not have the legal authority to override the state,” he said. written in the Atlantic. “I have the right to use my voice to encourage people to exercise common sense, listen to science, follow the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and stay home, if possible.”
