Nov 4, 2021 - Politics & Policy

Kasim Reed bows out of Atlanta mayor's race, runoff set for Nov. 30

Former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed

Kasim Reed conceded his bid to become Atlanta's next mayor. Reed served as mayor from 2010 to 2018. Photo: Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images

Two days after the Nov. 3 election, Kasim Reed ended his comeback campaign to become Atlanta’s next mayor.

Driving the news: The former mayor congratulated City Council President Felicia Moore and Councilman Andre Dickens, who both received enough votes to advance to the Nov. 30 runoff.

  • Reed, who had been widely considered a frontrunner, came in third place by about 600 votes.

Reed promised to remain active in the city.

  • “Although my campaign was unsuccessful, I still believe our city’s future is brightest as one that is united,” he said in a prepared statement posted on social media.
Kasim Reed tweet
Screenshot: Twitter

State of play: Moore received 40.8% of Tuesday’s vote, followed by Dickens with 23.% and Reed with 22.4%, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

  • Reed, who served as mayor from 2010 to 2018, campaigned on cracking down on the recent spike in crime.

The intrigue: Reed won his first mayoral race against Mary Norwood by about 600 votes.

Go deeper