Keisha Lance Bottoms Proposes Data Center Moratorium
The gubernatorial candidate seeks to pause new data center construction as part of a broad platform update.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Data Centers
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Gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms has announced a campaign platform that includes a call for a statewide moratorium on new data center construction. The former mayor is also proposing a series of tax and healthcare reforms for Georgia.
Why it matters
Bottoms is seeking input from consumers and experts on the state's data center industry while aiming to pivot the state toward new healthcare and fiscal policies. The proposal highlights her desire to overhaul existing state programs like the Georgia Pathways initiative.
Georgia currently holds the top national ranking for data center concentration. The proposed platform also targets a 2.5% tax on insurance and addresses the closure of 9 rural hospitals across the state.
The players
Keisha Lance Bottoms
She is a gubernatorial candidate who previously served as the mayor of Atlanta.
The details
The platform includes plans to guarantee pre-K for 4-year-olds and expand Medicaid to replace the current Georgia Pathways program. Additionally, Bottoms proposes allowing local governments to decide whether to eliminate grocery taxes.
Timeline
October 20, 2026: Keisha Lance Bottoms announced her campaign platform and policy proposals.
The Tech Race
This proposal reflects a growing trend in state-level oversight of industrial infrastructure projects. It positions the candidate against the state's current status as a national leader in data center capacity.
The proposed elimination of the 2.5% tax on auto and home insurance could directly reduce monthly expenses for policyholders. Additionally, the plan to allow local control over grocery taxes could lead to varying price impacts for residents depending on their city or county policies.
The takeaway
Voters will need to weigh the potential for tax relief against the broader economic implications of the proposed industrial moratorium. The platform signals a significant shift in the state's approach to both tech sector development and social safety net programs.
Further reading
Learn more about the state's infrastructure landscape on the Georgia Data Centers page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wtoc.
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