2025 South Fulton mayoral election

2025 South Fulton mayoral election
November 4, 2025 (general)
December 2, 2025 (runoff)
 
Candidate Carmalitha Gumbs Mark Baker Bill Edwards
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
First round 10,533
39.3% 		5,179
19.3% 		4,446
16.6%
Runoff 8,007
59.8% 		5,394
40.3% 		Eliminated
 
Candidate Joseph Adeyemi Ray Mills
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
First round 1,780
6.6% 		1,342
5.0%
Runoff Eliminated Eliminated
Mayor before election

Khalid Kamau

 Elected mayor

Carmalitha Gumbs

The 2025 South Fulton mayoral election was held on November 4, 2025, to elect the mayor of South Fulton, Georgia. Incumbent mayor Khalid Kamau ran for re-election to a second consecutive term, but placed sixth in the general election. Democrat Carmalitha Gumbs was elected in the runoff on December 2, 2025.[1]

Background

Kamau was first elected in 2021 with 59% of the vote in a runoff election on November 30, describing himself as "America's first #BlackLivesMatter organizer elected to public office."[2][3] He was arrested in 2023 for trespassing, and appeared in court on September 23, 2025.[4] An audit in July 2025 revealed that Kamau had spent nearly $70,000 in "questionable expenses," including Apple Music subscriptions, car washes, food purchases, and an international trip to Ghana, among others. Kamau offered to pay the money back and called the audit politically motivated, even though it was an independent audit by Baker Tilly.[5] He originally announced in April that he would not run for re-election.[6] Despite this, he launched his re-election bid in August.[7]

Candidates

Declared

  • Joseph Adeyemi, project manager and economist[8]
  • Mark Baker, former mayor pro tempore[9]
  • Kelvin Davis, Navy veteran[10]
  • Bill Edwards, former mayor (2017–2021)[11]
  • Carmalitha Gumbs, city councilor from the 2nd district (2017–present)[12]
  • Jewel Johnson, retired health care professional[9]
  • Khalid Kamau, incumbent mayor[13]
  • Ray Mills, entrepreneur[14]
  • Ryan Olson, fitness professional[9]

Debates and forums

2025 South Fulton mayoral election debates and forums
No. Date Host Moderator Link Participants
 P  Participant   A  Absent   I  Invited   N  Not invited  NYD  Not yet declared   W  Withdrawn 
Adeyemi Edwards Gumbs Kamau
1[15] September 18, 2025 Georgia Men for Democracy Now Unknown N/A P P P N

Results

2025 South Fulton mayoral election[16]
Candidate Votes %
Carmalitha Gumbs 10,539 39.30
Mark Baker 5,179 19.31
Bill Edwards 4,446 16.58
Joseph Adeyemi 1,780 6.64
Ray Mills 1,342 5.00
Khalid Kamau (incumbent) 1,270 4.74
Jewel Johnson 1,146 4.27
Kelvin Davis 771 2.87
Ryan Olson 346 1.29
Total votes 26,819 100.00

Runoff

Results

2025 South Fulton mayoral election runoff[17]
Candidate Votes %
Carmalitha Gumbs 8,007 59.75
Mark Baker 5,394 40.25
Total votes 13,401 100.00

References

  1. ^ Aldridge, Donesha (December 2, 2025). "Carmalitha Gumbs projected winner in South Fulton mayoral runoff election". 11Alive. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
  2. ^ "November 30, 2021 Municipal Runoff Election". Clarity Elections. Fulton County, Georgia. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  3. ^ Zachary Bynum (December 17, 2025). "South Fulton Mayor Khalid Kamau's trespassing case heads to trial while questions about race, power, and accountability remain - CBS Atlanta". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  4. ^ Proctor, Aungelique; Lupiani, Joyce (September 23, 2025). "South Fulton Mayor Khalid Kamau pleads not guilty to trespassing". FOX 5 Atlanta. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  5. ^ Henok, Sefenech; Richards, Makayla (July 23, 2025). "Audit: South Fulton mayor spent nearly $70K on travel, streaming and food without approval". 11Alive. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  6. ^ Raby, Dan; Proctor, Aungelique (April 24, 2025). "South Fulton mayor announces he will not seek re-election". FOX 5 Atlanta. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  7. ^ Reeves, Jackson (August 18, 2025). "Embattled South Fulton mayor says he will run for reelection, months after saying he wouldn't run again". 11Alive. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  8. ^ Proctor, Aungelique (May 27, 2025). "Joseph Adeyemi enters South Fulton mayoral race as political outsider focused on economic growth". FOX 5 Atlanta. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  9. ^ a b c Williams, Reed (October 3, 2025). "Controversial South Fulton mayor faces 8 challengers in election". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  10. ^ Edwards, Kandiss (May 2, 2025). "Georgia Mayor Khalid Kamau Says Farewell To South Fulton After A Slew Of Controversies". Black Enterprise. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  11. ^ Rayam, Lisa (April 17, 2025). "'Let's restore some honor and some integrity': Former South Fulton Mayor Bill Edwards is running again". WABE. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  12. ^ Murchison, Adrianne (March 3, 2025). "South Fulton councilwoman launches campaign for controversial mayor's seat". SaportaReport. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  13. ^ Alston, Jasmina (August 18, 2025). "Embattled South Fulton mayor announces he will run for reelection". Atlanta News First. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  14. ^ Perry, Eric (July 21, 2025). "Ray Mills, self-identified South Fulton native, enters mayoral race". FOX 5 Atlanta. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  15. ^ Salcedo, Angelina (September 19, 2025). "Top fundraising candidates for South Fulton mayoral race face off in debate without incumbent". 11Alive. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  16. ^ "South Fulton Mayor". Georgia Secretary of State. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  17. ^ "DECEMBER 2, 2025 Municipal Runoff Elections". Fulton County, GA. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
Official campaign websites
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