Stacey Abrams throws her hat in the ring for Georgia Governor

Atlanta, Georgia – Stacey Abrams might've lost the gubernatorial election in 2018, but that doesn't mean she's not ready to come back fighting in 2022.

Stacey Abrams speaks at an early voting rally on October 12, 2020, in Decatur, Georgia.
Stacey Abrams speaks at an early voting rally on October 12, 2020, in Decatur, Georgia.  © IMAGO/ZUMA Wire

On Wednesday, Abrams announced she was running for Governor of Georgia in a video on Twitter that was simply captioned, "I’m running for governor because opportunity in our state shouldn’t be determined by zip code, background, or access to power."

Abrams narrowly lost the race for governor to Republican Brian Kemp in 2018 by roughly 55,000 votes.

Abrams refused to concede the election because of rampant voter suppression in the state, including strict voter ID requirements and voter roll purges that disproportionately targeted Georgians of color.

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She then proceeded to found Fair Fight. The organization registered hundreds of thousands of voters in 2020 and has been credited with helping deliver Democratic wins in Georgia for Biden as well as Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock.

Kemp responded to the state's blue wave by making voting even more difficult, signing a restrictive elections law in March that will disparately impact Black and brown Georgians, who typically vote for Democrats.

Abrams' work on voting rights has made her a household name not just in Georgia, but around the country. Biden was even considering her as a possible running mate in 2020 due to her immense popularity.

But working to end voter suppression isn't all Abrams has done since her last run for governor. In her announcement, she points out numerous other ways she's been helping the people of Georgia, including by assisting 68,000 Georgians pay off medical debt.

If Abrams' run is successful this time around, she'll become the first Black governor in Georgia's history, and the first Black woman to serve as governor for any state.

Abrams' competition bites back

Stacey Abrams crosses the Edmund Pettus Bridge in memory of Bloody Sunday on March 1, 2020, in Selma, Alabama.
Stacey Abrams crosses the Edmund Pettus Bridge in memory of Bloody Sunday on March 1, 2020, in Selma, Alabama.  © IMAGO/ZUMA Wire

To bring Georgians together, Abrams says the state needs "leadership that doesn't take credit without also taking responsibility. Leadership that understands the true pain folks are feeling, and has real plans."

This, Abrams notes, is the sole job of the governor, and one that should be handled with honesty and dignity for the betterment of all Georgians.

At one point in her video announcement, which views like a movie trailer, Abrams walks alongside two young girls, who tell her they think she'd be a "really good governor" and all she needs to do is "stay tough and stay brave."

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With Abrams' entrance into the race, it's unlikely any other Democratic candidate will launch a bid, giving her a clear field to the party's nomination.

The same can't be said for Gov. Kemp, who has already earned the ire of ex-President Donald Trump for refusing to subscribe wholesale to the latter's election fraud myth. Trump may instead throw his weight behind former Sen. David Perdue, who is said to be considering a possible gubernatorial run. A tough GOP primary could split the Republican vote and give Abrams an added advantage.

But Kemp isn't letting up despite challenges from both sides. He took to Twitter after Abrams' announcement with a rabid warning for voters: "Stacey’s never-ending campaign for power has already hurt Georgia businesses and cost our state millions – all in service to her ultimate ambition of becoming President of the United States."

"Next November’s election for Governor is a battle for the soul of our state," he continued. "I’m in the fight against Stacey Abrams, the failed Biden agenda, and their woke allies to keep Georgia the best place to live, work, and raise a family."

With Abrams' star power and possible Republican infighting, the Georgia Democrat is in a good position to give Kemp a run for his money if it comes to a rematch.

Cover photo: IMAGO/ZUMA Wire

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