Stacey Abrams is an American politician, lawyer, and voting rights activist who served in the Georgia House of Representatives. As a Democrat, she founded Fair Fight Action in 2018 to combat voter suppression. Her work is widely acknowledged for increasing voter turnout in Georgia, particularly in the 2020 elections. These efforts contributed to Joe Biden's victory in Georgia and helped Democrats gain control of the Senate.
1956: Confederate Symbol Added to Georgia Flag
The Confederate battle flag was added to the Georgia state flag in 1956 as an action against the civil rights movement.
1966: State of the Union Responses Begin
The practice of formal responses to the State of the Union address began in 1966, establishing a tradition of providing an alternative perspective on the President's address. This practice has evolved over time, with various individuals and groups delivering responses, reflecting the changing political landscape.
December 9, 1973: Birth of Stacey Yvonne Abrams
Stacey Yvonne Abrams was born on December 9, 1973.
1989: Move to Atlanta
Stacey Abrams's family relocated to Atlanta, Georgia in 1989.
1990: Telluride Association Summer Program
Stacey Abrams was selected for the Telluride Association Summer Program in 1990.
1991: Graduation from Avondale High School
Stacey Abrams graduated as valedictorian from Avondale High School in 1991.
1992: Protest at Georgia Capitol
As a freshman in 1992, Stacey Abrams participated in a protest at the Georgia Capitol, where she burned the Georgia state flag, which at the time included the Confederate battle flag.
1994: Receives Stevens Award, Elmer Staats Award, and Harry S. Truman Scholarship
In 1994, Abrams was honored with the Stevens Award for Outstanding Legal Contributions, the Elmer Staats Award for Public Service, and was named a Harry S. Truman Scholar.
1995: Graduation from Spelman College
Stacey Abrams graduated magna cum laude from Spelman College with a Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary studies in 1995.
1998: Receives Master's of Public Affairs
Abrams earned her Master's of Public Affairs degree from the University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs in 1998.
1998: Master of Public Affairs Degree
Stacey Abrams earned a Master of Public Affairs degree from the University of Texas at Austin's LBJ School of Public Affairs in 1998.
2001: Named One of "30 Leaders of the Future" by Ebony Magazine
Ebony magazine recognized Abrams as one of "30 Leaders of the Future" in 2001.
2002: Deputy City Attorney for Atlanta
At age 29, Stacey Abrams was appointed deputy city attorney for the City of Atlanta in 2002.
2004: Featured on "40 Under 40" Lists
Abrams was included in Georgia Trend's "40 Under 40" list and the Atlanta Business Chronicle's "Top 50 Under 40" list in 2004.
2006: Campaign for Georgia House of Representatives
Stacey Abrams ran for the 84th District in the Georgia House of Representatives in 2006, winning the Democratic primary.
2007: Start of Georgia House of Representatives Tenure
Stacey Abrams began her service in the Georgia House of Representatives in 2007.
2007: Representing House District 84
Stacey Abrams began representing House District 84 in the Georgia House of Representatives in the 2007 session.
2009: Publication of Latest Book
In 2009, Abrams published her most recent book.
November 2010: Elected as Minority Leader
The Democratic caucus elected Stacey Abrams as Minority Leader in the Georgia House of Representatives in November 2010.
2010: Co-Founding of Nourish, Inc.
Stacey Abrams co-founded Nourish, Inc., initially a beverage company, in 2010.
2010: Co-Founding of NOW Corp.
While a member of the Georgia General Assembly, Stacey Abrams co-founded and served as senior vice president of NOW Corp., a financial services firm, in 2010.
2011: Preventing a Tax Increase
Stacey Abrams is credited with preventing a large tax increase in Georgia in 2011 by successfully arguing against a Republican proposal to cut income taxes while raising the cable service tax.
2011: HOPE Scholarship Preservation
As Minority Leader, one of Stacey Abrams's first actions was to collaborate with Governor Nathan Deal's administration to reform and preserve the HOPE Scholarship program in 2011.
2011: Minority Leader and HOPE Scholarship Reform
In 2011, Stacey Abrams became Minority Leader in the Georgia House of Representatives and co-sponsored legislation to reform the HOPE Scholarship program.
2012: Receives John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award and Recognition as a Rising Legislator
Abrams was honored with the John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award and named one of "12 Rising Legislators to Watch" by Governing Magazine in 2012.
2012: Voter Registration Cancellations Begin
Beginning in 2012 and continuing through 2018, Kemp's office oversaw the cancellation of over 1.4 million voter registrations in Georgia. This practice, which peaked with the cancellation of nearly 700,000 registrations in 2017, drew criticism for its potential to disenfranchise eligible voters.
2013: Named One of "100 Most Influential Georgians"
Abrams was included in Georgia Trend's list of "100 Most Influential Georgians" in 2013.
2013: Representing House District 89
Following reapportionment, Stacey Abrams represented District 89 in the Georgia House of Representatives starting in the 2013 session.
2014: Receives Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award
EMILY's List presented Abrams with the inaugural Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award in 2014.
2014: Named Public Official of the Year by Governing Magazine
Governing Magazine recognized Abrams as Public Official of the Year in 2014 for her outstanding achievements.
2015: Named One of "100 Most Influential Georgians"
In 2015, Abrams was once again recognized as one of "100 Most Influential Georgians" by Georgia Trend.
2015: Tax Deferral for Family Medical Expenses
Stacey Abrams deferred paying her federal taxes in 2015 to address her family's medical expenses. This information came to light in April 2018 when she publicly addressed her financial situation.
2016: Voter Registration Purges Raise Concerns
Between 2016 and 2017, over 534,000 Georgians had their voter registrations purged under Kemp's oversight. Investigative reporting revealed that a significant number of these individuals still resided at their registered addresses, prompting accusations of illegal voter purges and raising concerns about disenfranchisement.
2016: Tax Deferral for Family Medical Expenses
Stacey Abrams again deferred paying her federal taxes in 2016 to handle ongoing family medical expenses. This detail was made public in April 2018 when she openly discussed her financial circumstances.
2016: Named One of "100 Most Influential Georgians"
Abrams continued to be recognized for her influence, being named one of "100 Most Influential Georgians" by Georgia Trend in 2016.
2016: Opposition to Religious Liberty Bill
Abrams expressed her opposition to legislation resembling the religious liberty bill that was vetoed by Governor Deal in 2016.
July 2017: Mass Voter Registration Cancellations
In July 2017, Kemp's office canceled the voter registrations of half a million Georgians in a single night, a move that drew intense scrutiny and raised concerns about potential disenfranchisement. Critics argued that this action disproportionately impacted minority voters and constituted a form of voter suppression.
August 25, 2017: Resignation from General Assembly
Stacey Abrams resigned from the Georgia General Assembly on August 25, 2017, to concentrate on her campaign for governor.
2017: Named One of "100 Most Influential Georgians"
Georgia Trend acknowledged Abrams' ongoing influence by including her in their "100 Most Influential Georgians" list for 2017.
2017: Abrams's Stance on Election Integrity
Since her defeat in the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election, Stacey Abrams has consistently maintained that the election was not conducted fairly. She has repeatedly stated that she won the election and that it was "stolen" from Georgia voters, citing voter suppression tactics employed by her opponent, Brian Kemp, who oversaw the election as secretary of state.
2017: End of Georgia House of Representatives Tenure
Stacey Abrams concluded her time in the Georgia House of Representatives in 2017.
April 2018: Public Disclosure of Financial Information
In April 2018, Stacey Abrams wrote an op-ed in Fortune magazine disclosing that she owed $54,000 in federal back taxes and had $174,000 of credit card and student loan debt. She explained she was on an IRS payment plan after deferring her 2015 and 2016 taxes to cover family medical expenses. She also revealed a $50,000 donation to her own campaign during the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election.
April 2018: Publication of "Minority Leader: How to Lead from the Outside and Make Real Change"
Abrams authored "Minority Leader: How to Lead from the Outside and Make Real Change," published in April 2018 by Henry Holt & Co.
October 2018: Voter Registration Applications Put on Hold
In October 2018, Kemp's office placed over 53,000 voter registration applications on hold, with a disproportionate number belonging to minority applicants. While these voters could re-register, the move fueled existing concerns about voter suppression efforts, particularly so close to the election.
November 6, 2018: Abrams Loses Gubernatorial Election
Stacey Abrams lost the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election to Brian Kemp. The election was highly contested, with allegations of voter suppression and irregularities, leading to ongoing legal challenges and debates about the integrity of the outcome.
November 9, 2018: Atlanta Journal-Constitution Investigation Finds No Evidence of Systematic Malfeasance
On November 9, 2018, shortly after the Georgia gubernatorial election, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution published the findings of its investigation into the election. The newspaper reported finding no evidence of widespread or systematic misconduct that would have altered the outcome of the election, despite allegations of voter suppression.
November 16, 2018: Abrams Ends Campaign, Launches Fair Fight Action
On November 16, 2018, while refusing to concede the election due to concerns about irregularities, Stacey Abrams ended her gubernatorial campaign. In a significant move, she announced the formation of Fair Fight Action, a voting rights organization dedicated to combating voter suppression and ensuring fair elections. This marked a turning point in Abrams's career, shifting her focus towards advocacy and systemic change.
December 2018: Fair Fight Action Files Lawsuit
In December 2018, Fair Fight Action, the voting rights organization founded by Stacey Abrams, filed a lawsuit alleging widespread voter suppression during the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election. This marked a significant escalation in the fight for voting rights, challenging what Fair Fight argued were systematic efforts to disenfranchise voters.
2018: Accusations of Voter Suppression
During the 2018 gubernatorial election, Brian Kemp, in his role as Georgia's secretary of state, faced serious accusations of voter suppression. Critics, including scholars and election law experts, argued that his actions represented a calculated effort to disenfranchise voters, particularly minority voters, and undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
2018: Founding of Fair Fight Action
Stacey Abrams founded Fair Fight Action, an organization dedicated to addressing voter suppression, in 2018.
2018: Georgia Gubernatorial Election
Stacey Abrams became the first African-American female major-party gubernatorial nominee in the United States in 2018, narrowly losing to Brian Kemp.
2018: Historic Democratic Nomination for Governor
In 2018, Stacey Abrams won the Democratic nomination for governor of Georgia, becoming the first Black woman in the U.S. to be a major party's nominee for governor.
2018: Featured in "All In: The Fight For Democracy"
In 2018, Stacey Abrams was featured in the documentary "All In: The Fight For Democracy," directed by Lisa Cortés and Liz Garbus. The film explores voter suppression in the United States, with Abrams sharing her family's experiences with voting difficulties in Mississippi and her own encounters with voter suppression during the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial race.
2018: Voter Registration Cancellations Continue
Between 2012 and 2018, Kemp's office oversaw the cancellation of over 1.4 million voter registrations. This practice, which drew criticism for its potential to disenfranchise eligible voters, was part of a broader debate about voter suppression efforts during Kemp's tenure as secretary of state.
January 29, 2019: Abrams to Deliver State of the Union Response
On January 29, 2019, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that Stacey Abrams would deliver the Democratic response to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address. This marked a historic moment, as Abrams became the first African-American woman to deliver the rebuttal to the State of the Union address.
February 2019: State of the Union Response
In February 2019, Stacey Abrams became the first African-American woman to deliver a response to the State of the Union address.
April 30, 2019: Abrams Announces Decision Not to Run for Senate
On April 30, 2019, after much speculation and encouragement from prominent Democrats, Stacey Abrams announced her decision not to run for the U.S. Senate in 2020. Citing her ongoing work to combat voter suppression and promote fair elections, Abrams chose to focus on these efforts rather than pursue a Senate seat.
August 17, 2019: Founding of Fair Fight 2020
On August 17, 2019, Stacey Abrams established Fair Fight 2020, an organization dedicated to supporting Democrats in building voter protection teams across 20 states.
2019: Ranked First Among Influential African Americans by The Root
Abrams achieved the top ranking among influential African Americans aged 25 to 45 by The Root in 2019.
2019: Contributes Essay to Foreign Affairs Magazine and Speaks at International Events
Abrams authored an essay for Foreign Affairs magazine and participated as a speaker at various international events in 2019.
2019: Receives One Vote in Speaker of the House Election
Abrams received a single vote from Kathleen Rice during the 2019 election for Speaker of the U.S. House.
2019: Completion of Back Taxes and Debt Repayment
By 2019, Stacey Abrams successfully paid off all her back taxes to the IRS along with outstanding credit card and student loan debt that she had accumulated and publicly acknowledged during the 2018 gubernatorial campaign.
2019: Receives Distinguished Public Service Award
The University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs presented Abrams with the Distinguished Public Service Award in 2019.
June 2020: Publication of "Our Time Is Now: Power, Purpose, and the Fight for a Fair America"
In June 2020, Henry Holt & Co. published Abrams' book, "Our Time Is Now: Power, Purpose, and the Fight for a Fair America."
August 11, 2020: Kamala Harris Announced as Biden's Running Mate
On August 11, 2020, Kamala Harris was chosen as Joe Biden's running mate, while Abrams was selected as one of the keynote speakers at the Democratic National Convention.
December 2020: Fair Fight Action Drops Voting Machine Claims
In December 2020, amidst a wave of unfounded claims about voting machine problems, particularly by then-President Donald Trump, Fair Fight Action made a strategic decision to drop the portion of their lawsuit related to voting machines in Georgia. This move aimed to refocus the lawsuit on other alleged voting irregularities and prevent their case from being associated with unsubstantiated claims.
2020: Investigation into Possible Cybercrimes
In 2020, two days before the election, Kemp's office announced an investigation into the Georgia Democratic Party for alleged "cybercrimes," which the party vehemently denied as a political stunt. Subsequent investigations found no evidence of computer crimes, and it was later revealed that the alleged cybercrime was a planned security test.
2020: Impact on Georgia Elections
Stacey Abrams's efforts are recognized for boosting voter turnout in the 2020 Georgia elections, including the presidential election and the U.S. Senate elections.
2020: Credited with Boosting Democratic Votes in Georgia
Following Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election, Abrams was recognized for significantly increasing Democratic votes in Georgia, with an estimated 800,000 new voter registrations.
2020: Abrams Declines to Run for Senate Again
Stacey Abrams declined to run for the U.S. Senate in the 2020 special election in Georgia, choosing instead to focus her efforts on addressing voter suppression and promoting fair elections, issues she deemed more pressing at the time. Her decision not to run for office again highlighted her commitment to these causes.
February 2021: Federal Judge Dismisses Some Fair Fight Claims
In February 2021, a federal judge dismissed several key claims in the Fair Fight Action lawsuit, including those related to voting machines, voter list security, and polling place issues. The judge ruled that these claims were either addressed by changes in Georgia's election laws or lacked sufficient standing to sue.
April 2021: Some Fair Fight Claims Allowed to Proceed
In April 2021, a federal judge ruled that some of the claims made by Fair Fight Action in their lawsuit against Georgia's voting regulations could proceed, offering a glimmer of hope for the organization after previous setbacks. This ruling allowed Fair Fight to continue its legal battle against alleged voter suppression tactics.
May 11, 2021: Publication of "While Justice Sleeps"
Stacey Abrams published her fiction novel "While Justice Sleeps" under her real name on May 11, 2021.
May 2021: Publication of "While Justice Sleeps"
Abrams released her legal thriller novel, "While Justice Sleeps," under her own name in May 2021.
December 1, 2021: Announces Candidacy for Governor of Georgia
On December 1, 2021, Abrams declared her intention to run for the position of Governor of Georgia.
December 2021: Release of "Stacey's Extraordinary Words"
In December 2021, Stacey Abrams released a children's book titled "Stacey's Extraordinary Words".
2021: Nourish, Inc. Rebranding and Funding
Nourish, Inc., rebranded as Now and pivoted to an invoicing solution for small businesses, raised $9.5 million in Series A funding in 2021.
2021: Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize and Included in Time 100
Abrams was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize and recognized as one of the 100 most influential people globally by Time magazine in 2021.
2021: Nominated for Primetime Emmy Award
Abrams received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance in 2021 for her work on "Black-ish."
May 24, 2022: Wins Democratic Primary Unopposed
Abrams emerged victorious from the Democratic primary on May 24, 2022, without facing any opposition.
October 2022: Federal Judge Rules Against Fair Fight
In October 2022, after a protracted legal battle, a federal judge ruled against Fair Fight Action on the remaining claims in their lawsuit, dealing a significant blow to the organization's efforts to challenge Georgia's voting regulations. This marked a setback for voting rights advocates who had hoped for a more favorable outcome.
November 8, 2022: Loses Georgia Gubernatorial Election
Abrams lost the Georgia gubernatorial election to Brian Kemp on November 8, 2022.
2022: Second Georgia Gubernatorial Run
Stacey Abrams was the Democratic nominee for the 2022 Georgia gubernatorial election but lost to Brian Kemp again.
March 2023: Senior Counsel at Rewiring America
In March 2023, Stacey Abrams was hired as senior counsel by Rewiring America, a nonprofit focused on community electrification advocacy.
April 5, 2023: Appointment to the Ronald W. Walters Endowed Chair
On April 5, 2023, Howard University appointed Stacey Abrams to the prestigious Ronald W. Walters Endowed Chair for Race and Black Politics. This inaugural chair is situated within the Ronald W. Walters Leadership and Public Policy Center at the university.