Atlanta Mayoral Race 2025 Pits Dickens Against 3 Hopefuls

ATLANTA, GA — A former police officer, a community advocate and a corporate consultant are aiming to replace Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens in Tuesday's election.

Voters will decide several municipal seats, including who leads the most populous city in Georgia, Atlanta. On Nov. 4, voters could determine if Dickens retains his seat or if a new executive chief will take the helm in the nonpartisan race.

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 to be Atlanta's mayor.

Domagalski, a Republican, earlier in the debate, said he is running 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."

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

Where They Stand On The Issues

With the FIFA World Cup months away in summer 2026, Jackson recalled his time as an officer with the Atlanta Police Department when asked about his plans to combat the anticipated congested traffic.

He suggested drivers could avoid the area if they were not attending the massive event.

"My issue is to make sure we take care of the exterior and accommodate those who are attending this event and participants and the patrons of this event," Jackson said.

While traffic is infamously a concern in Atlanta, another matter of note is stormwater flooding. In times of severe weather, Atlanta has faced heavy flooding that left people stranded in their cars and prompted multiple boat rescues from homes.

Meredith, an Atlanta native and community advocate, believes added green-space is the answer. If he wins mayor, he said he would build infrastructure in abandoned buildings and make room for more trees.

"I think that if we reserve space for our trees and our greenery, then there wouldn't be as much flooding, so if we were able to invest that allocation into that particular entity then that will help with the flooding and the traffic," Meredith said.

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 by 2030 and have a total of 20,000 affordable homes generated by 2030.

How To Vote

Voters have until Nov. 4 to cast their ballots in their local municipal races. Polling locations will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on Election Day.

According to the Georgia Secretary of State's office, as long as people are in line by 7 p.m., they will be allowed to vote.

Absentee ballots need to be returned before polls close on Election Day to be counted. Voters have several options to request absentee ballots and for returning the completed ballots.

If there is a runoff, it will be held on Dec. 2. The last day to register to vote in the runoff will be on Monday, Nov. 24.

Early voting will start no later than Nov. 24 and will last for two days.

Election officials said absentee ballots in the runoff will be mailed as soon as possible.

Voters should go to the My Voter Page to determine their eligibility to vote and to locate their polling place and early voting location. Voters can also confirm their current addresses and view sample ballots.

A sample ballot for Fulton County can be found online.