Atlanta mayoral election: Bottoms declares victory, Norwood asking for recount

Credit: WSBTV.com

Credit: WSBTV.com

12:27 a.m. EST Wednesday: Mary Norwood says she's asking for a recount as Keisha Lance Bottoms declares a victory in the Atlanta mayor's race.

With 100 percent of the precincts reporting, Bottoms leads by just 759 votes. Bottoms, introduced by Mayor Kasim Reed as the 60th mayor of Atlanta, declared victory as she spoke to her supporters, but Norwood said the race isn't over yet.

ORIGINAL STORY: Today is the day Atlanta will decide which woman will become its next mayor.

>> Watch the news report here

Polls officially opened at 7 a.m. Tuesday.

Keisha Lance Bottoms and Mary Norwood spent Monday at City Hall doing the people's business, but they also did some campaigning before Tuesday's election. And with the race coming to an end, some people are now deciding whom they plan to endorse.

Outside City Hall, more endorsements came in for Bottoms. Prominent attorneys and progressives stood with her.

“I have no doubt in my mind that Ms. Bottoms will surround herself with a team of compassionate and thoughtful people with the political savvy to make this city better,” said assistant professor Maurice Hobson.

>> On WSBTV.com: Keisha Lance Bottoms, Mary Norwood face off ahead of Election Day

But across town, a civil rights activist said he’s endorsing Mary Norwood.

“Dr. King said it best: 'People want to be judged based on their character, not the color of their skin.' That works not just for white people but for African-Americans,” said the Rev. Markel Hutchins.

Hutchins said he supports Norwood because of her decades of public service.

“What Atlanta needs now is not just someone who is desiring of the office of mayor but someone who legitimately wants to serve the public,” Hutchins said.

Both candidates were at Monday’s City Council meeting after the Tuesday’s election, and it will be one of their last; one will become mayor and the other will become a private citizen.

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