The New Georgia Project, a voter rights organization founded by Stacey Abrams, is shutting down following significant campaign finance violations. The group announced its dissolution on Thursday, stating it had spent over a decade promoting civic engagement and justice in Georgia.
The Georgia State Ethics Commission recently imposed a $300,000 fine on the New Georgia Project for failing to register as an independent political committee while raising millions for Abrams' unsuccessful gubernatorial campaigns. This fine is reportedly the largest campaign finance penalty in the history of the commission.
According to David Emadi, executive secretary of the Georgia State Ethics Commission, the organization admitted to 16 violations, including failing to disclose over $4.2 million in contributions and expenditures. The funds were primarily used to support Abrams and other Democratic candidates.
Greg Bluestein, a political reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, described the New Georgia Project as once being one of the most influential political groups in the South. Its closure marks a significant decline for an organization that has been active in advancing Democratic causes for over a decade.
The New Georgia Project was founded in 2013 by Abrams as part of her efforts to increase voter registration among Black and non-white Georgians. Despite its stated mission, the organization has faced scrutiny for its partisan activities, which included campaign mailers and social media ads promoting Abrams' candidacy.
Hans von Spakovsky, an election law expert at the Heritage Foundation, criticized the organization for masquerading as a nonpartisan nonprofit while engaging in partisan advocacy. He stated that its closure is beneficial for all Georgians, regardless of political affiliation.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp's office commented on the dissolution, suggesting it reduces opportunities for Abrams to profit from her political activities. The New Georgia Project's closure follows layoffs of more than a dozen staff members after the ethics commission's ruling.
Additionally, a special state Senate committee is investigating Abrams and the New Georgia Project regarding their use of federal COVID relief funds. This inquiry coincides with a separate investigation into Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' prosecution of former President Donald Trump.
Von Spakovsky remarked that the end of Abrams' organizations represents a significant setback for her political career, suggesting she may need to return to writing novels.
Why it matters
- Primary documents and sources are linked for verification.
- The New Georgia Project's closure marks a significant decline for a major voter rights organization in Georgia, impacting Democratic mobilization efforts.
- The $300,000 fine for campaign finance violations is the largest in Georgia's history, highlighting regulatory scrutiny of political organizations.
- The dissolution follows layoffs and raises questions about the future of Stacey Abrams' political influence and initiatives.
What’s next
- A special state Senate committee is investigating Abrams and the New Georgia Project's use of federal COVID relief funds.
- Further scrutiny may arise regarding the implications of the closure on upcoming elections and voter engagement in Georgia.