Georgia Governor-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms announced Friday that filmmaker and studio owner Tyler Perry will serve as a co-chair of her transition team, known as “Georgia’s Promise.”
The announcement came during a press conference at the State Capitol in Atlanta, just days after her historic election victory.
Georgia Governor-Elect Keisha Lance Bottoms Names Tyler Perry to ‘Georgia’s Promise’ Transition Team
Bottoms introduced Perry as “an entertainment mogul who is also a huge philanthropic part of our Georgia community and owns Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta.” Bottoms spoke from a podium, with other transition team members standing behind her.
Bottoms, a Democrat and former Atlanta mayor, defeated Republican Rick Jackson in the November 3, 2026, general election with roughly 54.3% of the vote (about 2.27 million votes to Jackson’s 1.91 million). Her win ends more than two decades of Republican control of the governor’s office, makes her Georgia’s first woman and first Black governor, and marks the first time a Black woman has been elected governor of any U.S. state. She is set to be sworn in as the state’s 84th governor in January 2027.
Transition Team Details
The “Georgia’s Promise” team is led by Chief Operating Officer John King, a military veteran and former City of Atlanta chief operating officer under Bottoms. Co-chairs include a mix of business, civic, and political figures:
- Arthur Blank (Home Depot co-founder)
- Roz Brewer (former Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO)
- Jason Carter (Carter Center board chair)
- Michelle Nunn (civic nonprofit leader)
- Richard Cox (Delta Air Lines executive)
- Tyler Perry
- Vicki Palmer (retired corporate executive)
- Jane Kidd (former state representative)
- Carmen Chubb (affordable housing leader)
- Rashad Taylor (former city equity official)
Honorary co-chairs include Lt. Gov.-elect Harold Jones, state legislative leaders, U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, former governors, and other longtime Georgia figures such as Andrew Young and Sam Nunn.
Bottoms has emphasized readiness to govern on day one, with early priorities including Medicaid expansion, affordability measures, education, mental health care, and coordinating on issues such as recent floods in North Georgia. She has described a cooperative conversation with outgoing Republican Gov. Brian Kemp about a smooth handover.
Perry’s inclusion highlights his major footprint in Atlanta, where Tyler Perry Studios has become a significant economic and cultural presence. Bottoms framed him primarily as a philanthropist and local business leader.
Public Reaction and Significance of Perry
The C-SPAN post quickly drew online commentary. Some replies questioned the choice, referencing ongoing civil lawsuits against Perry. Actor Derek Dixon filed a $260 million lawsuit in 2025 alleging sexual harassment, assault, and retaliation while working on Perry’s shows The Oval and Ruthless. A second suit, filed by actor Mario Rodriguez (who appeared in Boo! A Madea Halloween), seeks $77 million and alleges repeated unwanted sexual advances over several years. Perry has denied the allegations in both cases. His lawyers have described them as baseless “money grab” or “scam” claims motivated by financial motives after professional or personal relationships ended, and have characterized some interactions as platonic friendship or mentorship. No criminal charges have been filed, and the matters remain in civil litigation.
Other online reactions ranged from jokes about the entertainment industry’s involvement in state government to notes on the breadth of the transition team’s business and civic leaders. Bottoms’ team has not publicly addressed the lawsuits in connection with the appointment.
The announcement represents an early step in Bottoms’ transition as she prepares to take office after a campaign focused on economic issues and expanding healthcare access. Additional appointments are expected in the coming weeks.