BREAKING: Dickens stuns Moore to become Atlanta's next Mayor

Dickens becomes Atlanta's 61st Mayor

Andre Dickens interviewed by WSB-TV

After a contentious runoff campaign, Atlanta has chosen its next Mayor.

City councilman Andre Dickens has been elected the 61st Mayor of Georgia’s capital city, according to a projection from Decision Desk HQ.

Dickens defeats City Council President Felicia Moore. It’s another stunning upset for the citywide councilman, who shocked political observers earlier this month when he edged out a former mayor for a spot in this runoff election.

He will succeed Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who famously announced in the spring that she would not seek a second term as mayor.

The 47-year-old engineer will now lead a city that has been plagued by a spike in violent crime. The alarming increase in murders, robberies and carjackings have left many residents on edge. It has even caused some residents in the northern Atlanta neighborhood of Buckhead to consider breaking away to form their own city.

Dickens will also be faced with issues of corruption, affordable housing, zoning, policing and infrastructure.

The race for mayor is not the only contest being decided in Atlanta on Tuesday. Several seats on the city council and the school board remain uncalled as of late Tuesday night.

More results can be found here.