From [HERE] Voters elected City Councilman Andre Dickens as Atlanta’s next mayor in a runoff election Tuesday, after a campaign dominated by concern over a rise in violent crime in Georgia’s largest city.

The Associated Press declared Mr. Dickens the winner late Tuesday night over City Council President Felicia Moore, with 62% of the votes in the two-person race, with 44% of precincts reporting. Both are Democrats, though the post is officially nonpartisan.

Mr. Dickens, 47 years old, will replace outgoing Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who chose not to seek re-election after 2020 protests that were followed by vandalism, a police shooting that sparked further unrest and a rise in murders and other violent crimes. Mayor Bottoms had endorsed Mr. Dickens in the runoff. 

In the general election on Nov. 2, Mr. Dickens had come in second place behind Ms. Moore, 60, in a field of 14 candidates. Since Ms. Moore didn’t win more than 50% of the vote, a runoff was required by law. Both candidates said combating crime would be one of their top priorities if elected. [MORE]