Andre Dickens wins Atlanta mayor’s race

Andre Dickens (D) won the Atlanta mayoral runoff election on Tuesday, according to The Associated Press, defeating his opponent, Felicia Moore (D).

The 47-year-old mayor-elect’s campaign focused on fighting crime in Atlanta, the AP noted, adding that Dickens said he would be more effective in bringing crime rates down than Moore and would address crime with affordable housing and opportunities for poorer Atlanta residents. 

Dickens announced his victory on Twitter, saying he was “humbled” to have been chosen. 

The future of Atlanta is limitless! Tonight, I am humbled that you chose me to serve as the 61st Mayor of Atlanta! #AndreforAtlanta pic.twitter.com/5UNk05i4AO

— Andre Dickens (@andreforatlanta) December 1, 2021

“We voted for progress and a problem solver, for a bridge builder, for transformation, and this work will start right now. We can’t wait any longer to address these issues,” Dickens said during his victory speech Tuesday, according to the AP.

Dickens also reportedly acknowledged Atlanta’s problems but said he believed in the city.

“Like they say, ‘Atlanta influences everything,’ and it’s time that we use that influence to make some real change. Atlanta needs to show the world that we are leading, that we are leading on public safety, on criminal justice reform, that we are leading on affordable housing and eliminating the inequality that we have.”

Dickens is an Atlanta native and trained engineer who has been an Atlanta City Council member since 2013. He finished second behind Moore, the president of the council, in a vote last month.