Republicans are trying to pin the Big Lie on Stacey Abrams – POLITICO
To drive that message home, theyre arguing that Abrams last campaign speech, a critique of Georgias election system in 2018, is no different from former President Donald Trumps refusal to accept the 2020 election results in the state.
Democrats attack Trump and Republicans for believing these conspiracies, believing what they call the Big Lie. But the original Big Lie proponent was Stacey Abrams, said Brian Robinson, a Georgia-based Republican strategist. She was ahead of her time, as she is on so many things.
How well their message takes hold is likely to shape a major theme of Georgias gubernatorial election in 2022, when election integrity and voting rights will remain major issues.
And it will be a potent political test for Abrams, an influential figure in the Democratic Party who made history as the first female Black nominee from a major party to run for governor and who is eager for a rematch against Republican Brian Kemp.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp speaks during a news conference at Lockheed Martin on Aug. 26 in Marietta, Ga. | Brynn Anderson, File/AP Photo
So far, Abrams is not backing down from the nuanced position she staked out at the end of a contentious campaign against Kemp, who was then secretary of state.
Abrams did not recognize him as the victor until more than a week after Election Day, as her campaign maintained they would wait for all of the votes to be counted before weighing in. Though she lost by some 55,000 votes, Kemp finished with 50.2 percent of the vote fewer than 10,000 votes above the majority runoff threshold that couldve forced a second election.
In her final speech 10 days later and at speaking engagements over the following months, Abrams maintained that she was not conceding the race.
Concession means to acknowledge an action is right, true or proper. As a woman of conscience and faith, I cannot concede, Abrams said to supporters in 2018. But my assessment is that the law currently allows no further viable remedy.
She was indicting the system that got Kemp elected alleging that voter suppression tactics paved the way for his win and was also implicating Kemp, as he was then officially in charge the states elections.
In an interview with CNN earlier this month, she reupped her view that the election was rigged echoing language often invoked by Trump.
Abrams said Kemp won under the rules of the game at the time, but the game was rigged against the voters of Georgia.
I, on November 16, 2018, acknowledged at the top of my speech that Brian Kemp is the governor of Georgia and I even wished him well at the end of the speech, Abrams said. And in the middle, I talked about the fact we had a system that he managed, that he manipulated, hurt Georgia voters and the responsibility of leaders is to challenge systems that are not serving the people.
According to a lawsuit filed by Fair Fight Action, a group Abrams founded after the 2018 election, the election was marred by a range of issues. The suit which is due to go to trial in February cites among other items Georgias exact-match law, claiming that it disproportionately targeted first-time minority voters. In addition, it alleges that elections officials were not properly trained to cancel absentee ballots, barring access to the ballot for scores of voters who opted to vote in person.
While Abrams claims are not nearly as confrontational as Trumps, they have given the GOP an opportunity to use her words to undercut her reputation as a champion of free and fair elections.
David Perdue, the former senator now running against Kemp in the GOP gubernatorial primary, said his decision to do so was driven in large part by Abrams entry to the race and his belief that Kemp would not be a strong enough candidate to defeat her.
David Perdue speaks during a rally in Augusta, Ga., on Dec. 10, 2020. | John Bazemore, File/AP Photo
In his election launch video, Perdue presented Abrams as a threat to the states elections, saying over my dead body will we ever give Stacey Abrams control of them. Around the same time, the Republican Governors Association issued a press release highlighting Abrams 2018 speech, saying she is a candidate who cannot be trusted.
And in March, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger wrote that Abrams refusal to concede the 2018 election undermined voters faith in the system. At public gatherings, he has alleged that both she and the former president are spreading misinformation about their races through Trumps allegations of election fraud and Abrams of voter suppression.
Yet while both Trump and Abrams refused to concede their elections, the similarities between the two stop there.
Trump not only refused to concede the presidential election but made false claims about its results, alleging that missing or fraudulent votes contributed to his loss.
The statements were unsubstantiated: Neither Georgias Bureau of Investigation nor the FBI found evidence of fraud during the 2020 election. Multiple ballot recounts found Joe Biden as the election winner in the state. And since then, state courts have dismissed the multiple lawsuits filed by the former president, his allies and supporters seeking to reverse the results of the election.
Seth Bringman, a spokesperson for Abrams, underscored her stance on the race.
After Election Day in 2018, the Abrams campaign went to federal court, multiple judges agreed with our claims and more Georgians' votes were counted, said Bringman. She acknowledged the result of the election but refused to accept that it was fair to the voters and she worked to change Georgia's voting system for elections moving forward.
However, that lawsuit was pared down by a judge in April, shortly after Kemp signed legislation that imposed new state restrictions on voting by mail and gave the GOP-controlled legislature more control over elections.
As the fight over Georgias election system rages on, Republicans are reveling in the idea of being able to use Abrams own words against her.
We've seen so many TV ads, so many digital ads, where candidates are stretching the truth. And I think the electorate realizes that. They know that not everything they see or hear now is fact checked or is valid, said Ryan Mahoney, a senior adviser to Brian Kemps 2018 election. And so when it's Stacey Abrams in her own words, it's a lot more believable, it goes a lot further and it's a lot harder for Abrams and her camp to dispute. And thankfully, for Republicans in Georgia, Stacey Abrams has spent a lot of time on TV since losing [the 2018] race.
Democrats have been quick to call out the GOPs tactics, saying that while election integrity may be front of mind for both Democratic and Republican voters, pushing the belief that Abrams is on an even level with Trump will not get the GOP far in the messaging wars.
I think this will land, probably, with [Republican] voters. But obviously, it's not going to work with the Democratic base, said Nabilah Islam, a Georgia-based Democratic strategist and former congressional candidate. For them to try to equate it to what Trump said is absolutely egregious.
And in her first interview after declaring her candidacy earlier this month, Abrams clarified her position on the 2018 election.
On the 16th of November when I acknowledged that I would not become the governor, that [Kemp] had won the election, I did not challenge the results of the election, unlike some recent folks did, Abrams told Rachel Maddow the night she launched her campaign. What I said was that the system was not fair. And leaders challenge systems; leaders say, We can do better. And thats what I declared.
Originally posted here:
Republicans are trying to pin the Big Lie on Stacey Abrams - POLITICO
- Republicans Begin Effort to Sell Tax Law in Trump Policy Bill to Las Vegas Voters - The New York Times - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Americans Want to Know Which Corporations Arent Paying Taxes, but House Republicans Want to Keep this Information Secret - itep.org - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Congressional Candidate Dragged Out of Hearing After Criticizing Texas Republicans - People.com - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Don't be fooled: Top Iowa Republicans warn Rob Sand is a far left candidate as governor's race picks up - thegazette.com - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- ENDANGERED SPECIES | The fall of the Kansas moderate Republicans from the view of Ron Freeman - themercury.com - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- House Republicans Introduce Resolution Establishing New Select Subcommittee to Continue Investigation of the Events Surrounding January 6 -... - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- The next big health care fight that's splitting Republicans: From the Politics Desk - NBC News - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Republicans plan to use threat of third Trump impeachment as key issue to boost their standing in midterm races - The Independent - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Republicans Are Already Giving Up Hope in This Key Election Race - The Daily Beast - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Some Virginia Republicans are facing off against familiar opponents this year and more headlines - Virginia Mercury - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Republicans plan to use the threat of impeachment as a key midterm issue - NBC News - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- The state where immigration raids are becoming a problem for Republicans - Politico - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- UWEC professor that flipped over College Republicans table suspended for 1 academic year - WEAU - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- WATCH: Sen. Schiff Urges Senate Republicans to Reject Emil Boves Nomination, Warns of Threats to Rule of Law - Senator Schiff (.gov) - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Republicans Are Panicking Over the Virginia Governors Race - Politico - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Republicans Rely on Trumps Promises to Grease the Path for His Agenda - The New York Times - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Opinion | Republicans are adding health care taxes but not on the rich - The Washington Post - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Senate Republicans miffed as House bolts for recess while they stay behind - The Hill - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Wisconsin Republicans move to repeal Gov. Tony Evers 400-year school funding increase - WPR - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Republicans Rethink the Structure of College Athletics - Inside Higher Ed - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Full List of Republicans Who Voted to Subpoena Epstein Files from DOJ - Newsweek - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Republicans Call Medicaid Rife With Fraudsters. This Man Sees No Choice but To Break the Rules. - KFF Health News - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- House Republicans head home for recess, sure to face Epstein questions when they get there - ABC News - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Newt Gingrich predicts a big win for Republicans in the midterms if they continue to communicate - Fox Business - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Perry one of 3 Republicans to call for subpoena of Epstein files from Justice Department - York Dispatch - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- How much do Republicans care about the Epstein files? More than it might seem - CNN - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Senate Republicans mourn the passing of Sen. Bruce Anderson - Minnesota Senate Republicans - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Republicans are ready to revive stalled health care legislation. Dems want the GOP to pay a price. - Politico - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Letters to the Editor: Republicans should be more concerned about their fiscal policies than the woke left - Los Angeles Times - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- North Texas Republicans gather for 'Red Rally' ahead of special session - Spectrum News - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Senate Republicans Abandon All Integrity in Judicial Nomination Vote - Alliance for Justice - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Analysis: Ohio Republicans warned against out-of-state special interests. Then gifted $600M to one - Ohio Capital Journal - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Republicans break down billions in ICE funding in Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' - Fox News - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Press Release: Hakeem Jeffries Criticizes House Republicans' "One Big Ugly Bill" as Costly and Ineffective - Quiver Quantitative - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- House Republicans know that @RepGarbarino will serve as a steady hand at the helm of the House Homeland Security Committee as Congressional... - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- The 2026 Senate map is tough for Democrats, but Republicans have their own headaches - MPR News - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Republicans food aid cuts will hit grocers in many towns that backed Trump - Politico - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Texas Republicans aim to redraw House districts at Trumps urging, but theres a risk - AP News - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Hill Republicans brace for another grueling fight over Trumps spending cuts - Politico - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- The 2026 Senate map is tough for Democrats, but Republicans have their own headaches - El Paso Inc. - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- The 2026 Senate map is tough for Democrats, but Republicans have their own headaches - Norwalk Hour - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- The 2026 Senate map is tough for Democrats, but Republicans have their own headaches - Bay to Bay News - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- What Republicans think of Musk and Trump after Musk's acrimonious exit from the administration - YouGov - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Ron Johnson, Wisconsin Republicans at odds with Trump over release of Epstein case documents - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Georgia Republicans Have Gone Full Knives Out - Bloomberg.com - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Republicans are trying to pull Pat Dugan back into the District Attorney race - Billy Penn at WHYY - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Trump backs Texas plan to redraw voting maps to benefit House Republicans - Reuters - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- 'Long overdue': Senate Republicans ram through Trump's clawback package with cuts to foreign aid, NPR - Fox News - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans advance nomination of former Trump lawyer Emil Bove as Democrats walk out - CNN - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Governor Hochul Convenes Cabinet Meeting on Devastating Impacts of Republicans Big Ugly Bill on New York State - Governor Kathy Hochul (.gov) - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Trump blasts 'stupid' and 'foolish' Republicans amid calls to reveal more Epstein files - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- A risky bet? Texas Republicans poised to redraw congressional map on Trumps orders - The Guardian - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Republicans to tee up House vote on Epstein resolution - The Hill - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Republicans are split over the Trump administrations handling of Epstein files - Politico - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Republicans Fretted Over Ceding Spending Power to Trump. Then They Voted to Do It. - The New York Times - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- These are the Republicans who voted against Trump's $9 billion clawback of foreign aid, NPR funding - Fox News - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Republicans Introduce Bill to Revoke the Charter of Largest US Teachers Union - Truthout - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Trump pushes Texas Republicans to redraw congressional maps to help defend GOP's House majority - Fox News - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Is This Restaurant the Only Thing Democrats and Republicans Agree On? - The New York Times - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Youre Irrelevant: House Republicans Roll Their Eyes at the Freedom Caucus - NOTUS - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Republicans plow ahead on cuts to PBS and foreign aid - Axios - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Susan Collins finally got her dream job. Fellow Republicans are making it a nightmare. - Politico - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Republicans in Congress Shift to Backing Ukraine, Matching Trumps Reversal - The New York Times - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- House Speaker Johnson joins growing number of Republicans pressing Trump administration for more transparency on Epstein case - CNN - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Trump tells Texas Republicans to redraw the state congressional map to help keep House majority - AP News - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Behind Republicans Risky Bid to Draw Themselves Five More Seats in Texas - Cook Political Report - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- A closer look at where Senate Republicans stand on Trumps rescission request - PBS - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Senate Republicans narrowly advance Trump's $9 billion spending cut package - NBC News - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- House Republicans block Democratic maneuver to force release of Epstein files - Axios - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- For Some Republicans, Trumps Shift on Epstein Is Just the Latest Breach - The New York Times - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Republicans race to slash $9bn for public broadcasting and foreign aid - The Guardian - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republicans break with Trump on Epstein - The Washington Post - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Republicans move to block Democratic effort to force release of Epstein files - The Guardian - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Republicans renew a bid to remove noncitizens from the census tally behind voting maps - NPR - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- These Republicans Want More Details Over Handling of Epstein Files - Newsweek - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Opinion | Mamdani for Mayor (if You Want to Help the Republicans) - The New York Times - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Republicans Proceed with Bill to Increase Energy Costs and Make Americans More Vulnerable to Nuclear Threats - House.gov - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Texas Redistricting Maneuver May Harm Republicans More Than It Helps - The American Prospect - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Texas Republicans Oldest Trick In The Book - split-ticket.org - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Republicans in Congress break with Trump on his handling of the Epstein files - NBC News - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]