Latest news with #FairFight
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal judge signals support for reviving voter lawsuit in Georgia
The Brief A federal appeals panel signaled it may revive a lawsuit accusing True the Vote of violating the Voting Rights Act by challenging over 360,000 Georgia voters ahead of the 2021 Senate runoff. Judges questioned a lower court's ruling that found no attempted voter intimidation, calling it a potential legal error. The lawsuit, filed by Fair Fight, claims the mass voter challenges were reckless and intended to suppress votes. ATLANTA - A federal appeals court in Atlanta appears poised to revive a closely-watched legal case involving a controversial mass voter eligibility challenge that took place in Georgia ahead of the 2021 U.S. Senate runoff elections, according to The Associated Press. What we know A three-judge panel from the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Tuesday in a case brought by Fair Fight, a voting rights group founded by former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. The group sued Texas-based True the Vote, alleging the nonprofit attempted to intimidate voters by challenging the eligibility of more than 360,000 people ahead of the runoff. The original case was dismissed last year by U.S. District Judge Steve Jones, who ruled that Fair Fight had failed to prove True the Vote's actions amounted to voter intimidation under the Voting Rights Act of 1965. During Tuesday's hearing, two appellate judges—Adalberto Jordan and Federico Moreno—signaled disagreement with the lower court's conclusion. Judge Jordan called the dismissal a "legal error," while Moreno suggested the trial judge had not fully examined all parts of the law. What they're saying The appellate judges expressed concern that the lower court overlooked key aspects of the case. In particular, Judge Jordan stressed that intent alone can support a claim of attempted intimidation: "Attempt does not require success," he noted. Judge Moreno questioned whether intimidating voters was the real objective behind the challenge and said the appeals court should provide clarity on mass voter eligibility contests in future elections. True the Vote's attorney, Jake Evans, defended the group's actions, arguing there was no intent to intimidate and no direct contact between True the Vote's co-founder, Catherine Engelbrecht, and any of the voters who testified. Big picture view The outcome of this appeal could set a precedent for how far third-party groups can go in challenging voter rolls before elections. With election security and voter suppression continuing to spark national debate, the case raises broader questions about the limits of citizen-led scrutiny and the protections afforded under the Voting Rights Act. What's next The appeals panel has not yet issued a ruling, but Tuesday's questioning suggests Fair Fight may see its lawsuit revived. If that happens, the case will likely return to district court for further proceedings. In the meantime, the appellate court's decision could influence how courts handle similar voter challenges in upcoming election cycles.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democrats give cold shoulder to possibility of third Abrams bid in Georgia
Democrats are throwing cold water on the possibility of Stacey Abrams mounting a third bid for Georgia governor, underscoring how the once-rising star's image has been tarnished by consecutive losses and recent controversies. Abrams hasn't publicly commented on another potential run but also hasn't ruled it out as she stays politically active. If she were to try again, Abrams would bring strong name identification and established fundraising prowess to the race because she's been a face of the state Democratic Party for years. But at least some Democrats think their best chance to win a difficult battle for the governor's mansion next year would be turning to someone new. 'There's not a lot of energy … or a large appetite within the state of Georgia amongst Democrats for a third Abrams run,' said Georgia Democratic strategist Fred Hicks. 'There's a deep appreciation for her putting Georgia in play through her work with the New Georgia Project, Fair Fight and her 2018 run,' Hicks continued. 'But I think after that '22 election and all the things that have happened in the state since then, Democrats are really focused on trying to put forth a candidate they feel like can win next year.' Abrams first became a national figure around the 2018 gubernatorial election. Having previously served as Georgia state House minority leader, she came within 1.5 points of winning the governor's race in a state that hadn't elected a Democratic governor in 20 years. She launched an organization called Fair Fight, dedicated to protecting voter rights, shortly after that election and delivered the Democratic response to President Trump's State of the Union Address in 2019. Her years-long efforts to flip Georgia paid big dividends in 2020, when the state voted for former President Biden and elected two Democratic senators. One of them, Sen. Raphael Warnock was reelected two years later when he ran for a full six-year term. But Abrams has struggled as a candidate herself. She sought a rematch against Gov. Brian Kemp (R) in 2022 but lost by more than 7 points. Democrats say they credit Abrams for contributing to shifting Georgia from a solidly red state to a battleground, but that it's best for them to look elsewhere. They said they recognize her strengths in name identification, fundraising and enthusing voters, but her past losses may be a sign. 'Third time is the who-knows-what,' said national Democratic strategist Jon Reinish. 'There's one major figure in American history for whom the third time was the charm — that was Reagan running for president.' 'These days, when voters are so eager for fresh, baggage-free figures, I don't know if that path to victory can still play out,' Reinish said. Abrams also faced controversy for years over allegations that two nonprofits she founded, the New Georgia Project and the New Georgia Project Action Fund, violated state law in campaigning for her but not registering as a political committee. The groups were fined $300,000 in January. A spokesperson for Abrams said at the time she hasn't been involved with the groups since she left in 2017. Hicks said questions have lingered about Abrams's campaign finances since 2018, but he doesn't believe that was the main obstacle facing her in 2022. He said a 'common refrain' he heard during that election was that the Abrams campaign was too focused on national media and grasstops advocacy rather than grassroots campaigning. He noted that Warnock outperformed her that year, making it to a runoff before eventually winning his Senate race, while Abrams wasn't close to winning governor. 'Everyone expects that she would be quite profitable in terms of raising money, and the primary would draw a lot of attention to the race, but there are great concerns about whether or not she could win in November,' Hicks said. The Hill has reached out to a spokesperson for Abrams for comment. She isn't the only rumored possible Democratic candidate considering a run. State Sen. Jason Esteves has already launched a campaign, while former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms filed paperwork to run last month. Former DeKalb County CEO Mike Thurmond and state Rep. Derrick Jackson have also indicated interest. Democrats expressed optimism at their chances of winning the governor's race, particularly with Kemp, who has been a popular governor and effective candidate, term-limited. 'I just think we need people who are young and aggressive, who are going to go after the Republicans,' said one Georgia Democrat. Strategist Antjuan Seawright said the most important characteristic for candidates thinking of running is to not be 'selfish' and focus on who has the best chance to win and can speak to what Georgians want in their leader. 'I don't think there's early favorites when it comes to political primaries, because it's all about peaking at the right time,' Seawright said. 'I think the most important thing is who's going to be able to define the opposition but also define the things that we are for as Democrats out in Georgia.' Meanwhile, Republicans have expressed eagerness at the prospect of twice-defeated Abrams running again, expecting it would give the eventual GOP nominee an easier path to victory. GOP strategist Jay Williams said the negatives are rising and that if she had a chance to win, it was in 2018. 'Republicans weren't as well-prepared for that,' he said. 'There was a little bit of disbelief at the time that a Democrat could win. When all that went down, Republicans started to get their act together.' Hicks also credited Abrams with the other victories that Democrats have had since 2020, including Warnock's two wins and the one from Sen. Jon Ossoff. 'Georgia wouldn't be where it is without her. Sen. Warnock wouldn't be there. Sen. Ossoff wouldn't be in there,' he said. He said Abrams should try to find objective third-party polling showing she is the strongest candidate and can win a general election before making a decision. If she has that, circumstances and voter sentiment can change. But Hicks added that some figures are naturally better suited to organizing and calling attention to an issue or election than succeeding as a candidate themselves. 'Some people are better at organizing and bringing attention than they are winning the races themselves,' he said. 'And there's no shame that Democrats want to win next year, and whoever can give Democrats the best chance, that's who they want to get behind.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Democrats give cold shoulder to possibility of third Abrams bid in Georgia
Democrats are throwing cold water on the possibility of Stacey Abrams mounting a third bid for Georgia governor, underscoring how the once-rising star's image has been tarnished by consecutive losses and recent controversies. Abrams hasn't publicly commented on another potential run but also hasn't ruled it out as she stays politically active. If she were to try again, Abrams would bring strong name identification and established fundraising prowess to the race because she's been a face of the state Democratic Party for years. But at least some Democrats think their best chance to win a difficult battle for the governor's mansion next year would be turning to someone new. 'There's not a lot of energy … or a large appetite within the state of Georgia amongst Democrats for a third Abrams run,' said Georgia Democratic strategist Fred Hicks. 'There's a deep appreciation for her putting Georgia in play through her work with the New Georgia Project, Fair Fight and her 2018 run,' Hicks continued. 'But I think after that '22 election and all the things that have happened in the state since then, Democrats are really focused on trying to put forth a candidate they feel like can win next year.' Abrams first became a national figure around the 2018 gubernatorial election. Having previously served as Georgia state House minority leader, she came within 1.5 points of winning the governor's race in a state that hadn't elected a Democratic governor in 20 years. She launched an organization called Fair Fight, dedicated to protecting voter rights, shortly after that election and delivered the Democratic response to President Trump's State of the Union Address in 2019. Her years-long efforts to flip Georgia paid big dividends in 2020, when the state voted for former President Biden and elected two Democratic senators. One of them, Sen. Raphael Warnock was reelected two years later when he ran for a full six-year term. But Abrams has struggled as a candidate herself. She sought a rematch against Gov. Brian Kemp (R) in 2022 but lost by more than 7 points. Democrats say they credit Abrams for contributing to shifting Georgia from a solidly red state to a battleground, but that it's best for them to look elsewhere. They said they recognize her strengths in name identification, fundraising and enthusing voters, but her past losses may be a sign. 'Third time is the who-knows-what,' said national Democratic strategist Jon Reinish. 'There's one major figure in American history for whom the third time was the charm — that was Reagan running for president.' 'These days, when voters are so eager for fresh, baggage-free figures, I don't know if that path to victory can still play out,' Reinish said. Abrams also faced controversy for years over allegations that two nonprofits she founded, the New Georgia Project and the New Georgia Project Action Fund, violated state law in campaigning for her but not registering as a political committee. The groups were fined $300,000 in January. A spokesperson for Abrams said at the time she hasn't been involved with the groups since she left in 2017. Hicks said questions have lingered about Abrams's campaign finances since 2018, but he doesn't believe that was the main obstacle facing her in 2022. He said a 'common refrain' he heard during that election was that the Abrams campaign was too focused on national media and grasstops advocacy rather than grassroots campaigning. He noted that Warnock outperformed her that year, making it to a runoff before eventually winning his Senate race, while Abrams wasn't close to winning governor. 'Everyone expects that she would be quite profitable in terms of raising money, and the primary would draw a lot of attention to the race, but there are great concerns about whether or not she could win in November,' Hicks said. The Hill has reached out to a spokesperson for Abrams for comment. She isn't the only rumored possible Democratic candidate considering a run. State Sen. Jason Esteves has already launched a campaign, while former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms filed paperwork to run last month. Former DeKalb County CEO Mike Thurmond and state Rep. Derrick Jackson have also indicated interest. Democrats expressed optimism at their chances of winning the governor's race, particularly with Kemp, who has been a popular governor and effective candidate, term-limited. 'I just think we need people who are young and aggressive, who are going to go after the Republicans,' said one Georgia Democrat. Strategist Antjuan Seawright said the most important characteristic for candidates thinking of running is to not be 'selfish' and focus on who has the best chance to win and can speak to what Georgians want in their leader. 'I don't think there's early favorites when it comes to political primaries, because it's all about peaking at the right time,' Seawright said. 'I think the most important thing is who's going to be able to define the opposition but also define the things that we are for as Democrats out in Georgia.' Meanwhile, Republicans have expressed eagerness at the prospect of twice-defeated Abrams running again, expecting it would give the eventual GOP nominee an easier path to victory. GOP strategist Jay Williams said the negatives are rising and that if she had a chance to win, it was in 2018. 'Republicans weren't as well-prepared for that,' he said. 'There was a little bit of disbelief at the time that a Democrat could win. When all that went down, Republicans started to get their act together.' Hicks also credited Abrams with the other victories that Democrats have had since 2020, including Warnock's two wins and the one from Sen. Jon Ossoff. 'Georgia wouldn't be where it is without her. Sen. Warnock wouldn't be there. Sen. Ossoff wouldn't be in there,' he said. He said Abrams should try to find objective third-party polling showing she is the strongest candidate and can win a general election before making a decision. If she has that, circumstances and voter sentiment can change. But Hicks added that some figures are naturally better suited to organizing and calling attention to an issue or election than succeeding as a candidate themselves. 'Some people are better at organizing and bringing attention than they are winning the races themselves,' he said. 'And there's no shame that Democrats want to win next year, and whoever can give Democrats the best chance, that's who they want to get behind.'
13-05-2025
- Politics
Federal appeals court may revive lawsuit against conservative group for voter intimidation
ATLANTA -- A federal appeals court appeared inclined Tuesday to revive a lawsuit accusing a conservative group of violating the Voting Rights Act when it announced it was challenging the eligibility of more than 360,000 Georgia voters. The lower court committed 'legal error' in its ruling finding no violation of the Voting Rights Act, 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Adalberto Jordan said at a hearing in Atlanta. Another judge on the panel, Federico Moreno, seemed to agree, saying the district court judge had failed to conduct a separate analysis of one part of the law. The three-judge panel did not immediately issue a ruling. The panel was considering a lawsuit against Texas-based nonprofit True the Vote by Fair Fight, a group founded by former Democratic Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. Fair Fight argued True the Vote's mass voter challenge ahead of a 2021 runoff election for two pivotal U.S. Senate seats violated a section of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that prohibits voter intimidation. In a 145-page decision last year, U.S. District Judge Steve Jones disagreed, saying the evidence presented during a trial did not show the actions of True the Vote 'caused (or attempted to cause) any voter to be intimidated, coerced, or threatened in voting.' Jones added, however, that the list of voters to be challenged 'utterly lacked reliability' and bordered on "recklessness.' Jordan and Moreno took issue with Jones' conclusion that True the Vote did not attempt to intimidate voters. Moreno asked an attorney for the group, Jake Evans, whether intimidating voters was the goal of the challenge. Evans said there was no evidence of any desire by True the Vote's co-founder, Catherine Engelbrecht, to intimidate voters, and she had no contact with the challenged voters who testified at trial. Jordan said that argument did not speak to the claim that the group attempted to intimidate voters. 'Attempt does not require success,' he said.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal appeals court may revive lawsuit against conservative group for voter intimidation
ATLANTA (AP) — A federal appeals court appeared inclined Tuesday to revive a lawsuit accusing a conservative group of violating the Voting Rights Act when it announced it was challenging the eligibility of more than 360,000 Georgia voters. The lower court committed 'legal error' in its ruling finding no violation of the Voting Rights Act, 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Adalberto Jordan said at a hearing in Atlanta. Another judge on the panel, Federico Moreno, seemed to agree, saying the district court judge had failed to conduct a separate analysis of one part of the law. The three-judge panel did not immediately issue a ruling. The panel was considering a lawsuit against Texas-based nonprofit True the Vote by Fair Fight, a group founded by former Democratic Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. Fair Fight argued True the Vote's mass voter challenge ahead of a 2021 runoff election for two pivotal U.S. Senate seats violated a section of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that prohibits voter intimidation. In a 145-page decision last year, U.S. District Judge Steve Jones disagreed, saying the evidence presented during a trial did not show the actions of True the Vote 'caused (or attempted to cause) any voter to be intimidated, coerced, or threatened in voting.' Jones added, however, that the list of voters to be challenged 'utterly lacked reliability' and bordered on "recklessness.' Jordan and Moreno took issue with Jones' conclusion that True the Vote did not attempt to intimidate voters. Moreno asked an attorney for the group, Jake Evans, whether intimidating voters was the goal of the challenge. Evans said there was no evidence of any desire by True the Vote's co-founder, Catherine Engelbrecht, to intimidate voters, and she had no contact with the challenged voters who testified at trial. Jordan said that argument did not speak to the claim that the group attempted to intimidate voters. 'Attempt does not require success,' he said. Moreno also suggested the 11th Circuit needed to weigh in on such mass challenges for future elections.
