Well, well, well, it looks like Stacey Abrams and her political brainchild, the New Georgia Project, have landed in hot water yet again—because what’s a week in Democratic politics without a good old-fashioned scandal? In what can only be described as the cherry on top of Abrams’s losing streak, the group she founded in 2013 has now admitted to violating state campaign finance laws during her 2018 gubernatorial campaign. Oh, and they’re coughing up a record-breaking $300,000 fine for their trouble. Let’s hear it for transparency and ethics, folks. Or, in this case, the lack thereof.
Let’s rewind a bit to 2018, when Abrams, riding a wave of media adoration and progressive hype, went all in against Brian Kemp in the Georgia governor’s race—and lost. Apparently, losing gracefully wasn’t on the menu, so instead, her organization, the New Georgia Project, decided to skirt state and federal laws to help her campaign. According to the Georgia Ethics Commission, the nonprofit spent $3.2 million on activities like fliers and door-to-door canvassers explicitly endorsing Abrams. For those keeping score at home, tax-exempt charities like this one are not allowed to campaign for candidates. But hey, why follow the rules when you’ve got a progressive darling to promote?
And let’s not forget the role of now-Senator Raphael Warnock, who was running the New Georgia Project during this time. While he and Abrams are both claiming innocence and conveniently washing their hands of any direct responsibility, it’s hard to overlook how this all went down under their watch. Warnock’s Senate office released a statement saying “compliance decisions were not a part of his work.” Sure, and the captain of the Titanic wasn’t in charge of steering the ship. Got it.
The fines handed down by the Georgia Ethics Commission, the largest in its 38-year history, are a clear rebuke of the New Georgia Project’s shady activities. And if you think this is just a slap on the wrist, consider this: emails uncovered during the investigation suggest that illegal coordination between Abrams’s campaign and the nonprofit may run deeper than what’s been publicly admitted. There’s even a separate complaint still under investigation. Translation? The drama isn’t over yet.
Of course, Abrams is doing her best to distance herself from this mess, with a spokesperson claiming she hasn’t been involved with the organization since 2017. But isn’t it funny how these scandals always seem to follow her around like a shadow? First, she refuses to concede the 2018 election, claiming it was “stolen.” Then she loses again in 2022, this time in a rematch with Governor Kemp. And now, the very group she founded is caught red-handed breaking the law to boost her failed campaign. If there’s a lesson here, it’s that Abrams has a knack for losing and leaving a trail of controversy in her wake.
And let’s not ignore the IRS in all of this. Americans for Public Trust has called for a federal investigation, and honestly, they have a point. The New Georgia Project’s blatant misuse of charitable dollars raises serious questions about federal tax law violations. If the IRS decides to dig in, it could spell even more trouble for the organization—and potentially for Warnock, depending on how much he knew during his tenure as its leader.
NEW: @SenatorWarnock-Led Charity Admits It Illegally Campaigned for @StaceyAbrams, Will Pay $300K Fine:@CaitlinAPT: “New Georgia Project should also be investigated on the federal level…would help determine the extent of Senator Warnock’s involvement.”https://t.co/ABef1o4wx4
— Americans for Public Trust (@apublictrust) January 15, 2025
While Abrams claims to be focused on “what’s next” for her political career (because, apparently, two losses weren’t enough), this scandal is yet another black mark on her record. Meanwhile, Georgia Republicans are likely smiling ear to ear. After all, they’ve not only exposed the unethical tactics of one of the Democrats’ most celebrated figures, but they’ve also solidified the narrative that Abrams and her allies will bend the rules to gain an edge—and still lose.
As for Warnock, he might want to tread carefully. While he narrowly secured re-election in 2022, scandals like this could haunt him when he’s up again in 2028. And with Georgia trending more competitive, thanks to Trump’s 2024 victory over Kamala Harris in the state, every misstep matters. Democrats have been quick to credit the New Georgia Project for their 2020 wins in Georgia, but with revelations like this, maybe they should start reconsidering their heroes.
So here we are. Stacey Abrams’s legacy as a champion of “voting rights” and progressive politics is now tied to a record-breaking ethics fine and a nonprofit accused of illegal campaigning. Maybe next time, Democrats will think twice before anointing their next political savior. Then again, maybe not. After all, it’s hard to learn lessons when you’re too busy rewriting the rules—and still losing elections.
