Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens Notches Landslide Victory, Projections Show

Updated 11:39 a.m.

ATLANTA, GA — Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens is projected to easily win a second term in the 2025 general election with more than 80 percent of votes cast, the Associated Press reported.

"Atlanta made its voice heard — loud, clear, and proud. A resounding victory! From the bottom of my heart: THANK YOU," Dickens wrote in a Facebook post published Wednesday, a day after he garnered more than 70,000 votes in the 2025 general election. "I’ve now won all 4 elections I’ve entered and they are all citywide! 4 for 4 in the 404! And another 4 in the 404!"

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Dickens recalled running for office four times, including in 2013 when he first ran for Atlanta City Council. He said his daughter was able to vote for him for the first time in Tuesday's election.

Candidates for Atlanta mayor must win a majority of votes to be elected. (See below for results).

As the projected victor, Dickens will govern Atlanta's 242 communities, including: Buckhead, Inman Park, Lindbergh, Castlewood, Ansley Park, Adamsville, Bankhead, Cascade Heights, Sweet Auburn and Old Fourth Ward.

"My campaign was never about one person. It’s always been about our people, our neighborhoods, and our shared belief in what Atlanta can be when we work together. The election’s results show that Atlantans believe we’re headed in the right direction — that you want to see us keep going, keep building, and keep lifting up every community in our city," Dickens said.

"I’m humbled by your support, inspired by your faith, and fired up to keep delivering on the promises we’ve made. My vision is simple: to make Atlanta the best city in the nation to raise a family. We showed what’s possible when we move with purpose and lead with love for this city. Now, the work continues. Over the next four years, we’ll build on the foundation we’ve laid... proving that Atlanta doesn’t just talk about big dreams. We make them real. To every volunteer, staff-member, donor, voter, and believer who stood with us: thank you. Now it’s time to get right back to work. Atlanta — let’s keep moving forward, together."

Here are the results with advanced voting tallies and 100 percent of precincts reporting as of Wednesday morning. All results are unofficial until certified.

Dickens, a Democrat, declined to take part in this year's mayoral debate hosted in October by the Atlanta Press Club. Standing next to his empty podium were challengers Dr. Helmut "Love" Domagalski, Kalema Jackson and Eddie Meredith.

Candidates tackled questions encompassing the heavy air and road traffic during the FIFA World Cup 2026, stormwater flooding in the city, housing and the shrinking homicide rate.

With limited political backgrounds, the trio attending the debate were asked why voters should choose them in the race for Atlanta mayor.

Domagalski, a Republican, earlier in the debate, said he ran for mayor because he "believes that we have to be the change that we want to see in the world." He later said his experience includes facing multimillion-dollar problems and leading massive teams, and that he will approach the mayoral role differently than some may have in the past.

Meanwhile, winning mayor would be Jackson's first political appointment. He said having fresh faces in office would, hopefully, show people that he is striving to do the right thing. "I feel like I have the Midas touch," he said. "Everything I touch, it turns to gold."

Meredith, a progressive, likened himself to biblical characters Moses and David. He noted his time as church pastor and partner of community nonprofits.

"I believe Atlanta needs a servant, somebody who is an advocate for the people, who holds the interest of the people at heart, who's willing to invest back into the community and put the people of Atlanta first and incorporate that initiative with helping and working with the state and the governor," he said. " ... I've learned what it means to be a leader and build those partnerships and relationships, and Atlanta deserves a mayor who works for the people, not politics. That's a leader."

In a campaign video, Dickens said his goal in running for mayor four years ago was to make Atlanta safe. Among what he considered to be victories, such as guiding Atlanta to become the best place to live and the best city to start a business, Dickens hinted that he has more work to do.

"I'm fighting for a safer, more affordable Atlanta," he said. "We'll build several more grocery stores to end food deserts and another 10,000 units of affordable housing by 2030, and make Atlanta the best place to raise a family in America. Why am I so sure? Because it's a new day in Atlanta."

Campaign Trail

Dickens' campaign spent at least $350,000 on ads on the road to mayor, according to AdImpact, a firm that tracks advertising. He was the only candidate on air as of the week before Election Day.

While Dickens was an underdog in his 2021 election, he's in a much more favorable position this year. Atlanta has a long history of awarding mayors second terms if they seek reelection. Former Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms was an exception but she didn't seek a second term.

Dickens was elected in a runoff election in 2021 after finishing second in the initial election to Felicia Moore.

During the mayoral debate, moderators noted homicides in Atlanta have seen a 44 percent drop since Dickens took office in 2022.

His initiatives to lessen crime included the implementation of the Nightlife Division, which focuses on safety in nightlife areas considered to be high-crime, and the Mayor's Office of Violence Reduction. The latter is centered on gang prevention, conflict resolution and domestic violence reduction.

Domagalski, McKesson Practice Choice developer, said continued policing efforts can carry on the decline in homicides. In his plans, artificial intelligence and technology can aid this endeavor, he said during the debate.

"Continued policing is actually very important," Domagalski said. "... I think that's a great step forward. I think the police chief has been incredible. We would put together a great working relationship."

During his first term, moderators said Dickens pumped the brakes on transit along the Atlanta Beltline's Eastside trail and chose to focus on the Southside trail.

In continuing the measure of developing Atlanta's Southside trail, Jackson said he would construct additional rail lines in the area.

"This is an area to where it needs more attention," he said, noting there is a demand for people to have more access to transit.

Jackson said he agrees with Dickens' efforts to revamp the south area of the Beltline.

"... What I plan is to refurbish the Southside of the city. It is in need of (the) most attention, so yes, that is my objective, as well; and, I will continue to implement programs and continue to build on the southside of the city."

As for housing, Meredith said he would redirect funding toward affordable housing, slicing money away from "waste" like lawsuits. He said Atlanta has spent $28.5 million on lawsuits.

He would also craft better rapport with Gov. Brian Kemp to combat the issue of affordable housing.

"I don't think that the relationship that the City of Atlanta has, right now, with our government is a good relationship; but, if we could build that relationship back with our governor, then we would be able to tackle affordable housing a lot more," Meredith said. "We have so many abandoned buildings that can be used not only as housing but as homeless shelters to not only clean up the streets but to put the infrastructure back into the city."

In his campaign video, Dickens touted creating a housing help center for older people and 10,000 affordable homes.

The connection between Atlanta city and state officials was also a topic for Domagalski, who said Section 8 vouchers and rent control considerations are needed in Atlanta.

Gun safety could also be an issue the Atlanta and state could tackle together as Domagalski said it may look differently in the city than in the countryside.

"That's okay to have different policies," he said. "We can't make those changes for our citizens without working together with the state."

Public safety and the youth have been at the heart of Dickens' first term as depicted through the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center and his declaration of the Year of the Youth. The training center was a major point of contention between law enforcement and protesters, but it ultimately came to fruition in April.

Dickens also gave attention to establishing more job opportunities, supporting the arts and cultural infrastructure and working to gain 100 percent clean energy by 2035, according to his campaign site.

He would like to minimize greenhouse gases by 59 percent and have a total of 20,000 affordable homes generated by 2030.

The Associated Press contributed reporting and writing.