Barack Obama Rallies With Jon Ossoff and Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia: "Georgia Will Bow to No King"
Former President Barack Obama closed out a packed "United for Georgia" rally on Wednesday evening, October 28, 2026, joining Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms at the Arena at Southlake in Morrow, outside Atlanta, six days before the November 3 midterm elections.
Nearly 8,000 people filled the 8,000-seat arena, with more supporters waiting outside, as a united Democratic ticket took the stage. Ossoff, who is seeking another term in the Senate, centered his message on corruption, telling the crowd: "Georgia will bow to no king." Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta now running for governor, warned that "the next six days will determine the future of our state for generations to come."
It has been more than two decades since Georgia had a Democratic governor, and Bottoms framed the race as a break with that history. She faces healthcare CEO and billionaire Republican Rick Jackson, and while her campaign has been outspent by millions, she and Jackson remain deadlocked in polling going into Election Day. Ossoff faces Republican Representative Mike Collins in the Senate race, a contest he has led in polls throughout the campaign.
Obama, who closed the rally, called for unity among voters while criticizing Republican candidates and President Donald Trump's administration. "Yes, we need to end this war and the corruption in Washington, but we also need to rediscover our north star," he said, adding that this election "feels a little different."
The former president also revisited a famous fashion controversy from his own time in office. "I'm old enough to remember when a president wearing a tan suit was a major national controversy," Obama said to applause. "They were very upset. And I know I looked good in the suit."
The rally also featured Senator Raphael Warnock, secretary of state candidate Judge Penny Brown Reynolds, lieutenant governor candidate Josh McLaurin, Pastor Jamal Harrison Bryant, and performances by the Clark Atlanta University marching band and singer Janelle Monáe. The event's focus was on encouraging people in Metro Atlanta to vote before the end of Election Day on Tuesday, November 3, as participation in counties including DeKalb, Clayton and Fulton has fallen behind more suburban areas.
Early voting has already set records: more than 2,000,452 people had voted early in person in Georgia as of Tuesday afternoon, and the final day of early voting is Friday, October 30. Obama's visit follows two recent campaign stops in Georgia by President Donald Trump, who appeared in Dalton on October 16 and in Perry on October 24.
Sources: USA TODAY, October 29, 2026; The Red and Black, October 29, 2026; CNBC TV18, October 28, 2026.