If you’ve been scrolling through social media or catching the local news lately, you probably think the Atlanta political scene is a constant, high-stakes battleground. And honestly? You're kinda right. But when it comes to the specific question of who running for mayor in Atlanta, the reality of the 2025 race was actually a bit of a blowout.
The big day was November 4, 2025. While there was a lot of talk about potential upsets and "outsider" energy, the incumbent, Andre Dickens, ended up cruising to a second term with a massive lead. He basically cleared the field. It wasn’t even close enough for a runoff, which is saying something in a city that usually loves a good December election drama.
The Man at the Top: Andre Dickens
Mayor Andre Dickens entered the 2025 cycle in a very different position than he did back in 2021. Back then, he was the underdog. He was the guy who barely made it into the runoff and then pulled off a surprising victory. Fast forward to 2025, and he was the "safe" choice with a $4 million war chest.
During the campaign, Dickens leaned heavily on his record. He talked a lot about the drop in violent crime—which, to be fair, was a huge point of contention during his first couple of years. He also pushed the "Moving Atlanta Forward" agenda, focusing on affordable housing units and making the city more "child-friendly."
Basically, he positioned himself as the bridge-builder who fixed the city's relationship with the state leadership at the Gold Dome. That political capital proved to be unbeatable.
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The Challengers: Who Else Was on the Ballot?
Even though Dickens was the clear frontrunner, he wasn't alone. Three other candidates stepped up to the plate, each trying to tap into different frustrations within the city. If you were looking for who running for mayor in Atlanta to provide a different perspective, these were your names:
- Eddie Andrew Meredith: A community advocate and small business owner who sells premade meals. Meredith focused his platform on the "regular people" struggle. He spent a lot of time in places like Washington Park, talking to residents who feel priced out of their own neighborhoods. He actually ended up being the runner-up, though "runner-up" is a bit generous when you're 80 points behind.
- Kalema Jackson: A former Atlanta police officer. As you might guess, Jackson’s whole thing was public safety. He argued that the city needed a leader in total alignment with both the state and federal government to keep things secure.
- Helmut "Love" Domagalski: A corporate consultant and founder of an LGBTQ+ nonprofit. Domagalski—or "Helmut Love" as he’s known on the trail—campaigned as a "strategic problem-solver." He was the one bringing up the "political machine" and pushing for more tech and AI in city services. He even named an "Executive of One Humanity," Dr. Stacee Lang, to help coordinate nonprofit efforts.
Why the Race Didn't Go to a Runoff
In Atlanta, you need more than 50% of the vote to win outright. If no one hits that mark, the top two have to go at it again in December. Most people expected a repeat of the 2021 nail-biter.
It didn't happen.
Dickens pulled in roughly 85% of the popular vote. That is a staggering number for a major metro city. For comparison, Eddie Meredith pulled in about 6%, Kalema Jackson took 5%, and Helmut Domagalski ended with around 4%.
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Why such a massive gap? Honestly, the challengers just couldn't match the visibility or the money. While Dickens was spending $350,000 on TV ads in the final week alone, his opponents were largely relying on grassroots flyering and social media. In a city the size of Atlanta, that's a tough mountain to climb.
The Issues That Actually Mattered
If you ask the average person on the BeltLine what they care about, they aren't going to talk about "tax allocation districts." They're going to talk about their rent and whether their car is going to get broken into.
- The Cost of Living: This was the biggest hurdle for everyone. Even with Dickens touting new affordable housing, the feeling on the ground is that Atlanta is becoming a city only for the wealthy. Eddie Meredith really hammered this point home, but he lacked the policy specifics to sway the middle-of-the-road voters.
- "Cop City": Formally known as the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center. This was the elephant in the room. Protests and heated City Council meetings defined much of the term leading up to the election. While Dickens remained a staunch supporter, the opposition was loud. Surprisingly, it didn't translate into a "protest vote" candidate gaining enough traction to force a runoff.
- City Ethics: Helmut Domagalski tried to make this a primary issue, especially after the high-profile exit of the city’s Inspector General, Shannon Manigault. He argued the "political machine" was protecting itself.
What This Means for Atlanta's Future
Now that the 2025 election is in the rearview mirror, Dickens is heading into his final four years. Atlanta has a two-term limit, so this is his "legacy" term.
He’s already hinted at some big moves. He wants to extend the city's tax allocation districts—a move that sounds boring but involves billions of dollars in potential development. He’s also looking at a massive $5.5 billion project list to fix infrastructure and address the disparities between the affluent Northside and the struggling Southwest side.
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Actionable Insights for Atlanta Residents
If you want to stay involved in how your city is run now that the mayoral race is over, here is what you actually need to do:
- Watch the City Council: The mayor is powerful, but the Council holds the purse strings. Several seats went to a runoff in December 2025, including District 7 (Buckhead) and District 11. Keep an eye on how these new members vote on the budget.
- Engage with NPU Meetings: Neighborhood Planning Units (NPUs) are where the real decisions about your street and your backyard happen. Don't wait for the next election to voice your concerns about zoning or traffic.
- Follow the Tax Allocation District (TAD) Debate: If Dickens moves forward with his plan to extend these, it will change how your property taxes are used for decades. It's worth reading the fine print on these proposals when they hit the council floor.
The 2025 race might have been a blowout, but the decisions made in the next four years will determine if Atlanta remains a city for everyone or just a playground for developers.
Staying informed about who running for mayor in Atlanta was just the first step. The real work is holding whoever wins accountable to the promises they made on the campaign trail.