"She needs no introduction. I just want to say that the great-great-granddaughter of slaves is the next governor of Georgia," Warnock said Sunday, as the congregation erupted in applause.

Democrats won every statewide office and flipped one of the two chambers in the state Legislature, an extraordinary rebuke of Republicans that ushers in eight Black women officeholders. Bottoms, the former Atlanta mayor, made brief remarks from the pulpit, thanking supporters and reflecting on the historic nature of her victory.

During an emotional moment, Bottoms said she found her great-great-grandmother's grave days after the election and dropped to the ground in gratitude. "And I thank you, and I thank you, and I thank you, and I thank you for standing with me," she said. "I know that this is a historic moment, and I don't take it for granted. I stand here because of the ancestors and because of all of you across Georgia."

Warnock, who delivered the sermon, marked the service as a moment to celebrate the victories and to honor those who made them possible. He noted that the congregation was in a position to celebrate because of the work of many.

"This is a day of celebration," he said. "But we know that everything is not solved yet. We've turned the corner, but we're not done. Everything is not solved in the direction we're going."

The service drew a crowd of Democratic officials and supporters, including state Rep. Inga Willis of Atlanta, who sang along during the service. Bottoms attended with her family.

The sweep upended Georgia's political landscape and gave Democrats newfound power in a state that had been dominated by Republicans. But the party will have to navigate a divided government: while Democrats flipped one legislative chamber, Republicans still hold the other, and the governor's office will be in Democratic hands for the first time in two decades.

Warnock, who has been a vocal critic of voting restrictions, also used the occasion to warn against complacency. "We have to stay woke," he said, referencing the need to protect the right to vote and to remain engaged.

The victory comes after years of organizing and mobilization by grassroots groups, particularly Black women, who were credited with driving turnout. Bottoms acknowledged that work, saying the election was a testament to their efforts.

"This victory is not just about me," she said. "It's about all the women who came before me, and all the young people who will come after."

As the congregation filed out of the church, many said they felt a sense of hope and possibility. "This is a new day for Georgia," said one attendee, who declined to give her name. "We've been waiting for this moment for a long time."

The celebration at Ebenezer, where King once preached, carried symbolic weight. Warnock, the church's senior pastor, has often invoked King's legacy in his sermons, and the church has long been a center of civil rights activism.

"We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us," Warnock said. "And we have a responsibility to carry that legacy forward."

Bottoms is set to take office in January, when she will become Georgia's first Black woman governor. She has promised to focus on expanding access to health care, investing in public education, and protecting voting rights.

But with a divided Legislature, she will need to work across the aisle to accomplish her agenda. Republicans have signaled they will oppose many of her proposals, setting up potential battles over taxes, spending, and social policy.

Still, Democrats are riding high after their sweep, and they used the service at Ebenezer to savor the moment.

"We have a lot of work to do," Bottoms said. "But today, we celebrate."