Guaranteed Income Advocates Celebrate Election Successes

Keisha Lance Bottoms, former Atlanta Mayor, recently celebrated a significant win as Georgia’s new governor. During her election night gathering at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, supporters cheered this historic moment. Bottoms’ victory marked the first time a Black woman has been elected as governor in the state. This result is a significant milestone for proponents of guaranteed income programs.

Michael Tubbs, who formerly served as Stockton, California’s mayor, established the Mayors for a Guaranteed Income (MGI) coalition. He expressed satisfaction with the election outcomes. Since MGI’s inception and the launch of the first pilot program in 2019, support for guaranteed income initiatives has steadily risen. Tubbs highlighted that 60 bills related to cash-based policies have been introduced in 15 states.

Numerous leaders allied with MGI succeeded in recent elections, ascending to higher offices. Daniel Biss and Paige Cognetti, mayors of Evanston and Scranton respectively, secured seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Additionally, Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller and Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando were elected to higher positions. Cook County set a precedent by establishing the first permanent guaranteed income program at the county level, which continues to serve as a model.

Funding for such programs remains a critical issue. With federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) no longer available, Cook County allocated $7.5 million from its fiscal year 2026 budget to sustain its guaranteed income program. Tubbs emphasized the need for a federal solution, pointing to inflation and financial strain as challenges linked to policy shortcomings.

MGI advocates for programs where participants receive payments of up to $1,000 monthly without spending restrictions. However, the expiration of federal pandemic relief raises concerns about the sustainability of these programs through local taxes.

On a broader scale, other organizations like the Economic Security Project (ESP) continue to support guaranteed income programs at both state and national levels. They have backed over 100 pilot programs nationwide. Recent election results favored several advocates for guaranteed income, such as Michigan’s U.S. Senate victor Abdul El-Sayed. Known for his commitment to healthcare and poverty reduction, El-Sayed’s success represents a promising shift for those pushing for cash assistance policies.

Additionally, Ohio’s Sherrod Brown, a principal supporter of the Child Tax Credit, is returning to the Senate with new allies. These developments underscore a growing trend in support of policies aimed at addressing financial insecurity through direct cash handouts.