Dr. Kendra King Momon

Atlanta’s NPR station WABE invited Oglethorpe University’s Dr. Kendra King Momon, professor of politics, to share commentary on local elections this week.

Dr. Momon sat in with Rose Scott on Closer Look on Tuesday evening during election returns, and again the next day with Denis O’Hayer on Morning Edition to discuss the outcomes and pending December 5th runoffs. Among the rematches are Atlanta City Council members Keisha Lance Bottoms and Mary Norwood who will go head-to-head in the mayoral run-off, and council members Felicia Moore and Alex Wan who will contend for city council president.

In her interview, Dr. Momon discussed the role that timely issues like public safety and accountability are playing in the election, and commented on the significance of women being the top three finishers in the mayoral race as “a remix of the ‘I’m with her'” phenomenon. She also pointed out the importance of third-place candidate Cathy Woolard and her supporters during the runoff, calling Woolard “a game-changer in this election” and concluding that “we need a united Atlanta, not a divided Atlanta.”

Listen to Dr. Momon’s full exchange with Denis O’Hayer below.

Examining The Results Of The Atlanta Mayor’s Race – WABE

The race for Atlanta mayor will come down to a runoff. City council members Keisha Lance Bottoms and Mary Norwood will meet in that election on Dec. 5. Neither of them captured the simple majority needed to win outright. Bottoms took 27 percent of the vote. Norwood took 21 percent.