Stacey Abrams, touting exceptional fundraising ability, declares run for Georgia governor

From [HERE] Stacey Abrams, the Georgia Democrat and founder of voting rights organization Fair Fight Action, announced Wednesday she will run for Georgia governor in 2022, setting up a potential rematch against incumbent Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. 

Abrams brings an exceptional ability to fundraise from donors across the country, after building an extensive campaign finance machine since her failed bid for governor in 2018.  

“Leadership that understands the true pain folks are feeling, and has real plans. That’s the job of governor,” Abrams said in her campaign announcement video. “To fight for one Georgia, our Georgia. And now, it’s time to get the job done.”

During her first run for governor, Abrams raised $27.7 million to Kemp’s $22.3 million. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution estimated the race cost more than $100 million, which included spending from outside groups. 

In 2018, she lost to Kemp by 1.4 percentage points, or about 55,000 voters. Afterward, Abrams garnered national attention from Democrats who praised her playbook to elect Democrats in the South by energizing a previously inactive coalition of racially diverse voters. Abrams did not concedein the 2018 election and argued voter suppression played a role in her 2018 loss. 

After her 2018 run, Abrams founded Fair Fight Action, an organization dedicated to protecting voting rights. In the 2020 election, Fair Fight PAC, which operates as a “hybrid” super PAC and traditional PAC, raised nearly $90 million and spent more than $66 million.

The PAC’s largest donation came from former New York City mayor and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg, who gave $5 million in 2019. The PAC received seven other donations of $1 million or more in the 2020 election cycle. 

The PAC’s largest expenditures in the 2020 cycle went to the Senate Majority PAC, with a $6.7 million donation, and the Black PAC, which works to mobilize Black voters, with a $6.6 million donation. [MORE]