Political Group Founded by Stacey Abrams Fails After Imposing $300,000 Ethics Penalty

New Georgia Project Shuts Down After Controversies

A news report from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution noted that the New Georgia Project, which was co-founded by Stacey Abrams, is closing down. This decision comes just months after the organization faced a significant fine due to ethics violations.

Started in 2013 by Abrams and later led by Georgia Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock, the New Georgia Project had a substantial impact on local politics. With a budget in the multimillions, it successfully registered many new Democratic voters. However, the situation deteriorated in January when the group was hit with a record fine of $300,000 for campaign finance issues.

The Georgia Ethics Commission concluded that the nonprofit and its affiliate, the New Georgia Project Action Fund, had not disclosed around $4.2 million in donations and $3.2 million in expenses, which were mostly utilized to support Abrams during the 2018 elections.

While the organization claimed to be “nonpartisan,” it engaged in heavily partisan activities without registering as independent political action committees. This apparent contradiction raised eyebrows, considering they portrayed themselves as advocates for various demographic groups.

Initially denying any misconduct, both organizations eventually admitted to multiple violations of state campaign finance laws—over 15, to be exact. This admission came after years of accusations about illegal support for Abrams, as reported by AJC.

The downfall of the New Georgia Project followed a series of troubling events, including key staff departures, allegations of sexual harassment, and struggles with fundraising amid concerns over financial mismanagement. Additionally, an investigation by a Georgia Senate committee added to the pressure, leading to Abrams’ involvement with the group in March.

In a farewell statement, the organization’s board announced its dissolution, urging supporters to uphold values of “justice, honesty, and fairness.” Abrams stepped away from the organization in 2017, while Warnock resigned in 2020 after two years as chairman.