Republican strategists have formed a group called “Stop Stacey” aimed at stopping Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams from potentially running for governor in 2022. On Monday (Feb. 1), the group aligned itself with Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who narrowly won the bid for governor over Abrams in 2018.
According to a statement, the group was launched to uncover Abram’s “shady voter groups that undermine election integrity” and will work to “unite and mobilize grassroots Republicans across the country.”
“We will do whatever it takes to expose Stacey Abrams’ radical network, highlight her dangerous agenda and ultimately defeat her — and her left-wing candidates — at the ballot box,” the group’s senior strategist, Jeremy Brand, said. “There is no time to waste: We must stand up, fight back and Stop Stacey.”
The group’s creation follows several historic wins for Democrats in Georgia. In November, President Joe Biden became the first Democratic presidential candidate to be elected in the state in almost 30 years. Last month, Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff also defeated Republicans Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue in Georgia’s Senate runoffs.
Abrams was widely credited with Democratic success in Georgia and the state’s record-breaking voter registration numbers. Since 2018, Abram’s group Fair Fight has registered tens of thousands of voters and rallied $100 million.
In a statement, the CEO of Fair Fight Lauren Groh-Wargo responded to Republicans’ new group and said they should “start serving Georgians.”
“Leader Abrams has made no decision about her political future, but here’s what I do know: GA Republicans failed on 11/3 & 1/5 with weak leaders, a disastrous COVID response and families are suffering,” she tweeted.
Abrams is expected to run a second time for Georgia governor in 2022. The activist and politician has repeatedly said that voter suppression caused Kemp to claim a narrow victory over her two years ago.