Election 2026

Independent, source-first accountability

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Issue record

Ethics and government

In short

Jackson's campaign would set term limits, pass “the strongest ethics laws in America” and audit every government program; Bottoms' would bar a governor from profiting from state contracts, require divestment before taking office and make state spending records easier to use. During Bottoms' time as mayor, Atlanta created a transparency officer, city credit card rules and an inspector general. Council members sponsored all three laws, and she signed the inspector general law.

Campaign positions

What each campaign says.

Rick Jackson

Would enact term limits and “the strongest ethics laws in America”, and audit every government program.

Keisha Lance Bottoms

Would bar a governor from profiting from state contracts, require divestment before taking office and make the state's online spending records easier to use.

Evidence timeline

What the record shows.

  1. official action

    Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated direction

    A transparency officer, credit card limits and an inspector general all became law while she was mayor; council members sponsored them, and she signed the inspector general law.

    Read the full check

    Full detail

    Her campaign says she advanced reforms including the city's first chief transparency officer, and established an inspector general and tighter rules on city credit cards. Atlanta's code shows all three became law while she was mayor: a transparency officer in September 2018, credit card rules banning personal use in January 2019, and an independent Office of the Inspector General in February 2020. The charter has the mayor approve or veto each law, and her office said she signed the inspector general law. Limit: Council members sponsored all three laws. Her January 2020 order says the inspector general law was introduced in coordination with her administration, and city releases say she proposed the transparency law and signed the inspector general law.

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Sources15 source records

How we use sources

  1. Rick Jackson for Governor, action planhttps://rickjackson.com/action-plan/

    Jackson for Governor, Inc. · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Captured 2026-09-23. His platform, about 1,400 words across 17 headings. It links a fuller nine-page plan (jackson-action-plan-pdf).

    candidate statement

    For: Rick Jackson: campaign position

  2. Insiders Out, Taxpayers First Ethics Plan (document)

    Keisha for Governor · Published Aug 1, 2026 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Her ethics plan, dated August 2026, linked from her issues page.

    candidate statement

    For: Keisha Lance Bottoms: campaign position

  3. Keisha for Governor, track record: transparent and ethical leadershiphttps://www.keishaforgovernor.com/issues/farmers

    Keisha for Governor · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Captured 2026-09-23. The detail page behind the ethics item on her track record page. The site files it at /issues/farmers.

    candidate statement

    For: Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated direction

  4. Atlanta Code, Chapter 3, Transparencyhttps://library.municode.com/ga/atlanta/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOORENOR_CH3TR_ARTIITROF

    City of Atlanta (Code of Ordinances, published by Municode) · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Creates a transparency officer to oversee the city's compliance with the Georgia Open Records Act. From Ord. No. 2018-41 (18-O-1266), dated Sept. 25, 2018.

    official legislative record

    For: Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated direction

  5. Atlanta Code, Chapter 2, Division 3, purchasing card policyhttps://library.municode.com/ga/atlanta/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOORENOR_CH2AD_ARTVIIOFEM_DIV3PUCAPO

    City of Atlanta (Code of Ordinances, published by Municode) · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Sets rules for city purchasing and credit cards and bars personal use. Every section derives from Ord. No. 2019-13 (19-O-1004), dated Jan. 28, 2019.

    official legislative record

    For: Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated direction

  6. Atlanta City Charter, Article 8, the Office of the Inspector Generalhttps://library.municode.com/ga/atlanta/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTICHRELA_SPACH_ART8THOFINGE

    City of Atlanta (Code of Ordinances, published by Municode) · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Section 8-101 establishes the Office of the Inspector General. Its history note begins with Ord. No. 2020-09 (19-O-1729), dated Feb. 6, 2020. Later changes came in 2023 and 2025. Read from Supplement 107 on 2026-09-23.

    official legislative record

    For: Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated direction

  7. Ordinance 18-O-1266, creating a transparency officerhttps://atlantacityga.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?ID=15161

    Atlanta City Council (legislative records) · Published Sep 17, 2018 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The council's file for the transparency law. Headed "An ordinance by Councilmembers Andre Dickens, Joyce M. Sheperd, Marci Collier Overstreet" and 12 more. Adopted 14-0 on Sept. 17, 2018. The officer is appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council.

    official legislative record

    For: Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated direction

  8. Ordinance 19-O-1004, a credit card use policy for the cityhttps://atlantacityga.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?ID=17008

    Atlanta City Council (legislative records) · Published Jan 22, 2019 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The council's file for the credit card law. Headed "An ordinance by Councilmembers Andre Dickens and J.P. Matzigkeit". Adopted 13-0 on Jan. 22, 2019.

    official legislative record

    For: Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated direction

  9. Resolution 19-R-3148, the Task Force for the Promotion of Public Trusthttps://atlantacityga.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?ID=17158

    Atlanta City Council (legislative records) · Published Feb 18, 2019 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The council's file for the task force that later recommended an inspector general. Headed "A resolution by Councilmember Marci Collier Overstreet". Adopted 13-0 on Feb. 18, 2019. The mayor appoints five of its 12 members and its chair.

    official legislative record

    For: Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated direction

  10. Ordinance 19-O-1729, creating the Office of Inspector Generalhttps://atlantacityga.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?ID=20369

    Atlanta City Council (legislative records) · Published Feb 3, 2020 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The council's file for the inspector general law. Its heading lists all 15 council members; the Sponsors field names Jennifer Ide, Marci Collier Overstreet and Howard Shook. It says a task force set up under resolution 19-R-3148 recommended an inspector general. Adopted 14-0 on Feb. 3, 2020 and sent to the mayor's office. It does not show her signature.

    official legislative record

    For: Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated direction

  11. Atlanta City Charter, Section 2-403, submission to mayor; mayor's vetohttps://library.municode.com/ga/atlanta/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTICHRELA_SPACH_ART2LE_CH4PRCO_S2-403SUMAMAVE

    City of Atlanta (Code of Ordinances, published by Municode) · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The mayor approves or vetoes each ordinance within eight days of adoption. The code dates for the three laws fall 8, 6 and 3 days after the council votes.

    official legislative record

    For: Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated direction

  12. Executive Order 2020-01, calling for an Office of Inspector General (document)

    City of Atlanta, Office of the Mayor · Published Jan 13, 2020 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Her executive order of Jan. 13, 2020. Says the inspector general law was introduced in coordination with her administration and urges the council to pass it. Archived copy of the city's file; the city's site blocks this desk. sha256 6805d146df18.

    official office record

    For: Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated direction

  13. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Ushers in New Standard for Open Governmenthttps://web.archive.org/web/20260123145815/https://www.atlantaga.gov/Home/Components/News/News/11709/672?npage=60&arch=1

    City of Atlanta, Mayor's Office of Communications · Published Sep 17, 2018 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Her office's release. Says the transparency officer comes from legislation she proposed. Archived copy; the city's site blocks this desk.

    official office record

    For: Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated direction

  14. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms' Task Force for the Promotion of Public Trust Approved by City Councilhttps://web.archive.org/web/20260207131144/https://www.atlantaga.gov/Home/Components/News/News/11946/672?npage=56&arch=1

    City of Atlanta, Mayor's Office of Communications · Published Feb 18, 2019 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Her office's release. Calls the task force hers and lists her credit card reforms and the appointment of the city's first Chief Transparency Officer. Archived copy; the city's site blocks this desk.

    official office record

    For: Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated direction

  15. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Signs Legislation Creating Office of Inspector Generalhttps://web.archive.org/web/20201029083202/https://www.atlantaga.gov/Home/Components/News/News/13260/1338?arch=1&npage=4

    City of Atlanta, Mayor's Office of Communications · Published Feb 7, 2020 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Her office's release. Says she signed the inspector general law. Archived copy; the city's site blocks this desk.

    official office record

    For: Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated direction