This archive report was first published on 13 August 2019.
On the heels of her narrow loss in the 2018 gubernatorial election, Stacey Abrams has announced that she will not be entering the crowded Democratic presidential field in 2020. Instead, she will be directing her efforts towards addressing voter suppression through her advocacy group, Fair Fight Action.
Ms. Abrams' decision comes as no surprise, given the numerous challenges she would have faced in building a national fund-raising operation and competing against established candidates with higher name recognition.
However, her legacy as a champion of voting rights continues to inspire Democratic presidential candidates, who often cite her as an example of a candidate who was unfairly denied victory due to voter suppression.
As Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts noted in an April speech, 'Massive voter suppression prevented Stacy Abrams from becoming the rightful governor of Georgia.'
Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey also weighed in on the issue, stating in November 2018, 'I think that Stacey Abrams's election is being stolen from her, using what I think are insidious measures to disenfranchise certain groups of people.'
Under Ms. Abrams' leadership, Fair Fight Action has been working to expand democracy and ensure all voters have access to the polls. The group's latest initiative will target 20 states across the Midwest and Southeast, investing up to $5 million to correct inaccurate voter rolls, address voting machine shortages, and standardize absentee ballot counting procedures.
As part of this effort, Fair Fight Action will also establish a state-by-state hotline for local communities to report election irregularities.
Ms. Abrams' decision to focus on voter rights is a testament to her commitment to ensuring that every citizen's voice is heard at the polls.
