Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
At 9:23 p.m., Imara Canady, co-chair for Mayor Andre Dickens’ re-election watch party, took the stage inside the Hyatt Regency Atlanta to announce what the cheering crowd already expected: Andre Dickens had won a second term as Atlanta’s 61st mayor.
The Hyatt’s centennial ballroom glowed with celebration as supporters gathered around tables set with photos chronicling Dickens’ first term. A large screen replayed milestones from his administration, including the Moving Atlanta Forward agenda, affordable housing projects, and the mayor’s youth initiatives, serving as reminders of the groundwork laid since he was first sworn in as the city’s 61st mayor in 2022.
Polls closed across Atlanta at 8 p.m., and by 8:13 p.m., the Associated Press projected Dickens as the clear winner. He went on to secure more than 50 percent of the vote, defeating challengers Eddie Andrew Meredith, Helmut Domagalski, and Kalema Jackson.
The Victory Speech
Standing before an ecstatic crowd, Mayor Andre Dickens opened his victory speech with gratitude and reflection. “Mercy, God, thank you,” he began, beaming as supporters chanted “four more years” across the ballroom. “I’m so proud and humbled to serve the greatest city in the world,” Dickens said, recalling his journey from Adamsville to City Hall. “At 16 years old, I dreamed of becoming mayor. I looked up to Mayor Jackson and Andrew Young, and I stand on the shoulders of those giants.”
He thanked his campaign team, volunteers, and family, especially his daughter, who cast her first vote for him that day, “The group project of Atlanta is unstoppable.”
A Mandate from the People
Moments after his victory speech, Dickens spoke with The Atlanta Voice, calling the night “an awesome moment, a landslide victory, and a mandate from the people.”
“They want four more years of what we’ve given them already, working together as a group project,” Dickens said. “Over the next four years, it’s going to be about bringing people together, unifying folks, and making sure our city’s growth is balanced, especially on the South Side. That means improving transit, healthcare, food access, and quality education all over the city, so we keep Atlanta safe and affordable.”
Transformational Achievements
Under Dickens’ leadership, Atlanta achieved its first-ever AAA bond rating, marking the city’s strongest financial position in history. His administration launched the Moving Atlanta Forward infrastructure program, a multi-billion-dollar investment organized around four pillars: One Safe City, A City of Opportunity for All, A City Built for the Future, and Effective & Ethical Government.
A defining initiative of Dickens’ first term was his Year of the Youth campaign, launched in 2023 to expand mentorship, employment, and recreation programs for young Atlantans. The initiative created more than 3,000 youth job placements, extended recreation center hours, and funded new mental health and career readiness programs.
A City in Motion
With Atlanta preparing to host matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Dickens’ reelection signals continuity during a time of rapid growth. Co-chair of his re-election campaign, Ryan Wilson, co-founder and CEO of The Gathering Spot, called the victory “a pivotal moment” for the city.
“We need a leader who understands Atlanta and works every single day to make sure we’re prepared for what’s ahead,” Wilson said. “This re-election wasn’t about fear, it was about telling the story of what’s been accomplished and why he’s the right person to lead us forward.”
Among the attendees celebrating Dickens’ win was former Georgia Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, who recently announced his campaign for governor as a Democrat. Duncan praised the mayor’s leadership and consensus-building approach.
“He’s tackled the tough issues, from public safety to affordability, and built real consensus along the way,” Duncan said. “He’s doing a great job, and he’s going to be rewarded for it.”
The Legacy of Leadership
Dickens’ reelection continues Atlanta’s six-decade tradition of two-term mayors. Since 1962, six of the city’s past eight mayors have won reelection, with Sam Massell being the last incumbent to lose, in 1973 to Maynard Jackson.
As the crowd’s chant of “Four more years” filled the Hyatt, Dickens smiled and summed up the spirit of the evening:
“This is about all of us,” he said. “Together, we’re going to keep building a city where everyone belongs.”