Latest news with #StaceyAbrams
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Democratic leaders visit MS Coast to rally vote in high-stakes Gulfport election
Suddenly, after months of relentless campaigns, the national political leaders who arrived this week in Gulfport are trying to force new urgency into the last days of the mayor's race. 'We don't quit,' Democratic politician and activist Stacey Abrams said at a Sunday campaign stop in Gulfport several miles from where she grew up. 'They've been trying to stop us for 200 years. And what we are going to do instead is show up.' Abrams appeared with U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson to campaign for mayoral candidate Sonya Williams Barnes at an event advertised as a kick-off to the election on Tuesday. In impassioned speeches, the Democratic leaders called the race a 'bellwether election' that could signal broader change across Mississippi and even the country. But the appearance of two prominent Democrats was also a sign of how tense the race has become. Abrams spoke four days after Mississippi's Republican Attorney General said she was investigating Barnes following Republican complaints that some locals gave restaurant vouchers to voters in what the party calls a violation of state law. Barnes and other Democrats have dismissed the accusations as a false and politically-motivated distraction. And conservatives are energized too. At a Friday rally for Republican candidate Hugh Keating, top leaders warned their party that the race was close and pleaded that they vote. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina spoke alongside U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, U.S. Rep. Mike Ezell and outgoing Gulfport Mayor Billy Hewes. 'Call your friends. Call your neighbors,' Scott told the crowd on Friday. 'This is a race that will require you to go the extra mile.' About 200 people gathered on a usually-quiet stretch of 31st Avenue to hear Abrams, Barnes and Thompson, who also pleaded that residents urge everyone they know to vote. The leaders said federal cuts by the Trump administration were worrisome for Gulfport and told supporters Barnes would be an ally they could turn to in local government for help. 'All you have to do is go out and vote,' Thompson said. The crowd, sweating in the heat, clapped and cheered approval. Turnout, often low in local elections, has already been notable: City officials said last week they had received over 1,000 absentee ballots compared to just 177 during the last mayoral election. Barnes won the April Democratic primary with 3,316 votes — over 600 more than outgoing Republican Mayor Billy Hewes won in the 2021 general election. Keating had no opponent in the 2025 Republican primary. Abrams said she came to Gulfport after she heard some Republicans had called her an outsider part of a national Democratic effort to turn Gulfport blue. 'With President Trump's success, the Democrats are pretty angry right now,' Hyde-Smith told the Republican rally on Friday. 'This is called revenge, getting back and gaining ground,' she added. 'We can't seem to get the national Democrats out of this race.' Barnes has said she alone is responsible for running her campaign and called similar statements divisive. Abrams spent much of her childhood in the city, and she and Barnes are the children of United Methodist ministers who were friends. Still, Keating said last week that the Attorney General's investigation is concerning to Republicans. How fast it will proceed is unclear because the Attorney General's office does not comment on open inquiries. Barnes did not address the investigation on Sunday but said last week she had met with two of the Attorney General's investigators. Both campaigns have been calling residents and knocking on doors in a last-ditch effort to encourage turnout and lure undecided voters before polls close on Tuesday. 'We can't quit,' Keating said Friday. 'We're noticing some very positive results.' 'We need to win,' Barnes told voters on Sunday. 'But we can win only with you.' Anita Lee contributed reporting.
Miami Herald
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
FAMU alum running for Governor in Georgia
Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has officially entered the 2026 Georgia gubernatorial race, bringing her extensive leadership experience and a renewed focus on unity to the forefront of state politics. A proud alumna of Florida A&M University (FAMU), Bottoms aims to become Georgia's first Black female governor, following in the footsteps of fellow HBCU graduate Stacey Abrams, who previously ran for the position in 2018 and 2022. Bottoms, 55, highlighted her 'battle-tested executive leadership' from her tenure as Atlanta's mayor, during which she managed significant public safety issues and supported police and firefighter pay raises. She also served as a senior advisor in the Biden administration, focusing on public engagement and voter protection. Her campaign emphasizes expanding Medicaid, supporting small businesses, and workforce training as key priorities for Georgia's future. In contrast, Stacey Abrams, a Spelman College alumna, made history as the first Black woman to be a major-party gubernatorial nominee in the U.S. Despite her groundbreaking campaigns, Abrams faced defeats in both the 2018 and 2022 elections against Republican Brian Kemp. Her efforts, however, significantly increased voter turnout and brought national attention to voter suppression issues in Georgia. Bottoms' entry into the race underscores the continued influence of HBCU graduates in shaping Georgia's political landscape. FAMU alumni has a strong HBCU community in the Atlanta Metro area which could be a galvanizing cornerstone for her campaign. Her candidacy not only represents a potential historic milestone but also reflects a commitment to addressing systemic issues affecting all Georgians, regardless of race or political affiliation. The post FAMU alum running for Governor in Georgia appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Associated Press
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms launches bid for Georgia governor
ATLANTA (AP) — Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms says her single term as Atlanta mayor gave her 'battle-tested executive leadership' that she can offer to Georgia voters as she runs for governor. Bottoms, 55, officially launched her campaign Tuesday, becoming the second well-known Democrat to jump into the 2026 race. State Sen. Jason Esteves of Atlanta announced his campaign in April. 'As we are facing the uncertainty and the anxiety that's being created in Washington right now, I'm running to be a fighter for Georgia,' Bottoms told The Associated Press on Monday. 'I want to be able to fight and deliver for our communities, whether it's from expanding Medicaid, to delivering for our small businesses, to making sure that people have a pathway to vocational and career training or college,' she said. Bottoms and Esteves hope to succeed Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who can't run again at the end of his second term. On the Republican side, Attorney General Chris Carr kicked off his campaign in December, while Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is expected to announce that he's running sometime this summer. Among other Democrats, former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond has expressed interest, and two-time candidate Stacey Abrams could choose to run again. Also running as a Democrat is the Rev. Olujimi 'Olu' Brown, a Methodist minister. A lawyer and former magistrate judge, Bottoms won election to the Atlanta City Council in 2009 and was reelected in 2013 before outgoing Mayor Kasim Reed endorsed her as his successor. Bottoms narrowly was elected and served one term that was defined by the pandemic. Every Atlanta mayor since World War II had sought a second term before the day in 2021 when Bottoms shocked Georgia's political establishment by saying she would not. But she says that didn't reflect a lack of desire for public service. 'Not having the energy to do the job, that was not the case. In fact, I ran through the tape,' Bottoms said, arguing she continued to accomplish things until the end of her term. As an early supporter of former President Joe Biden, Bottoms was among those considered to be his vice president. After stepping down as mayor, she joined the Biden administration as director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. Bottoms said she's not worried about being associated with an unpopular Biden. She also said she thinks her record on crime and public safety is a positive one, even though her administration struggled with the same COVID-19 era rise in murders as did other cities nationwide. 'As mayor I gave our police and firefighters a historic pay raise. I actually supported the building of the public safety (training) center in Atlanta that's servicing people across the region,' Bottoms said. 'So I have a very strong record when it comes to public safety.' Proponents say the $118 million project, now complete, was sorely needed to replace outdated facilities. One early night of Atlanta protests following the death of George Floyd in 2020 ended with the burning of a police car and broken windows downtown that were broadcast worldwide. Bottoms won national praise that night for ordering protesters to 'go home' as she stood alongside Atlanta hip-hop stars Killer Mike and T.I. But weeks after Floyd's death, Rayshard Brooks, a Black man, was killed by an Atlanta police officer after a struggle following a field sobriety test. Atlanta's police chief resigned hours later. After one of the officers was criminally charged, Atlanta police officers called in sick in waves. Later, protesters burned down the Wendy's where Brooks died and an 8-year-old girl, Secoriea Turner, was killed when the car she was riding in was shot at near the restaurant. The turmoil led then-President Donald Trump and Kemp to repeatedly attack Bottoms' leadership. But Bottoms is betting that it's Trump that Democratic voters will view as the chaos agent. 'My record has been one of providing steady leadership during chaotic times,' Bottoms said.
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.'
