Stacey Abrams became a household name in politics quickly in the last few years for her work fighting against voter suppression. She became a seemingly overnight sensation for the Democratic party for her strategies and efforts to encourage Black, Hispanic, and Asian voters— her most notable work being in her home state of Georgia. Her promotion and engagement in the Black communities of Georgia saw a huge uptick in Black voters in the state. Abram’s efforts have made a historically Red state become a battleground state not so easily won by Republicans. She made irregular voters consistent ones which many think is the key to making the South “less red.” Many have attributed Biden’s win in Georgia to her voting participation efforts.
Since Biden’s election, I have become more and more aware of Abrams’ significance in politics and saw myself rooting for her in much of what she does. It was exciting and refreshing to see a Black woman, in a state with deep historical roots in racism, make real, tangible progress. Much to my disappointment though, in the 2022 elections, she conceded to Republican nominee Brian Kemp for governor. This was her second loss to him, as she also ran against him in the 2018 election. After becoming invested in her movement I wondered to myself, what’s next? After two failed runs, politicians typically don’t try again. I was scared her movement and mobilization of minority voters would end with her conceding the race for governor. Luckily, Abrams has made it clear she will not give up that easily.
Her final words of the night after she conceded as governor were, “I know the results aren’t what we hoped for tonight, and I understand that you are hurting and you are disappointed, I am too. We may not have made it to the finish line, but we ran that race.” It is not clear whether Abrams will continue her political career within Georgia, but she made it apparent she’s not done yet. Even though her loss is disappointing it still presents the possibility of a future campaign, just probably not as governor. Other politicians, such as Jason Carter, a former colleague of hers suggested that her national recognition may have been the reason she lost Georgia. Carter said, “She spent an enormous amount of time being a national figure on really crucially important issues. That national profile is really important and has enormous value, but it also has consequences.” Her focus on national issues and rights extending past Georgia may have hurt her in the short run, but the movement and attention she has built may help her in the future.
Other Democrats have suggested that a run for a larger office with more national attention, such as vice president, may be a more suitable next option for Abrams. This likely won’t be for the next few elections, but she has caught enough recognition by fellow Democrats and activists that it is unlikely she will completely disappear from the realm of politics. Even Abrams herself has talked about running for President and that her impact will not stop here. There will still be a lot more challenges to come if Abrams continues her work and strives to be the first Black woman as president, but she has no plans of stopping. Just in the short time since the election she has announced a new children’s book and intentions on working on a documentary. Her second loss was crushing to hear, but over and over she has made it clear that the struggles she faces only make her stronger.
“My being a a black woman is not a defecit. It is a strength. Because I could not be where I am had I not overcome so many other barriers
Stacy Abrams