Democrats are already not having a good go at it. Their fortunes are about to get worse.
Because a disgraced Democrat is preparing a huge announcement that has Washington, D.C. shocked.
Stacey Abrams’ Potential Third Run: A Risky Bet for Georgia Democrats
Stacey Abrams, a polarizing figure in Georgia politics, is reportedly mulling a third bid for governor, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The twice-defeated Democratic candidate, known for her unfounded claims of voter suppression in the 2018 election, could once again dominate the party’s primary. Yet, her persistence might spell disaster for Democrats in a state where Republicans have solidified their grip. Abrams’ potential candidacy raises serious questions about the party’s strategy and whether it can afford to bet on a figure whose track record suggests she’s more liability than asset in a general election.
Abrams’ campaigns against Republican Gov. Brian Kemp in 2018 and 2022 ended in decisive losses. In 2018, she fell short by roughly 55,000 votes, a close but clear defeat. By 2022, Kemp crushed her by a staggering 300,000 ballots, exposing her inability to expand her appeal beyond a loyal but limited base. Despite these setbacks, Abrams has clung to a narrative of electoral injustice, insisting without evidence that the 2018 race was stolen. This stance, while energizing some supporters, has alienated others who see her as unwilling to accept reality—a trait that could further erode her credibility in a third run.
The Democratic primary field for 2026 is already shaping up to be more competitive than in past cycles. State Sen. Jason Esteves has thrown his hat in the ring, and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance-Bottoms is expected to join the race, per the Journal-Constitution. In 2022, most Democrats stepped aside, handing Abrams an uncontested path to the nomination.
This time, she’ll face a fight. “Every Georgia Democrat is scared to death Abrams runs again because they know they can’t beat her in the primary,” Cody Hall, a Kemp adviser, told the Journal-Constitution. “But she’s also probably their worst candidate in the general.” Hall’s blunt assessment points to a grim truth: Abrams’ dominance in primaries doesn’t translate to statewide success.
Abrams’ name recognition and donor network remain formidable, even if parts of her campaign infrastructure have crumbled since her last run, according to the Journal-Constitution. Her ability to mobilize funds and supporters could give her an edge in a crowded primary. But the enthusiasm for her candidacy is waning among some party faithful who crave a new face. “She’s run twice, and that’s enough to convince me she won’t win,” Jimmy Johnson, former chairman of the Appling County Democratic Committee, told the Journal-Constitution. “Can some other Democrat win? Yes, if there is a candidate who can hold 90% of the Black vote and attract rural voters and somehow overcome the GOP’s very effective whisper campaign.” Johnson’s words reveal a growing sentiment that Abrams’ moment may have passed.
The Democratic Party’s hesitation to embrace Abrams again stems from her electoral baggage and the shifting dynamics of Georgia politics. While she galvanized Black voters and urban liberals, her campaigns failed to crack the rural and suburban coalitions that Kemp expertly courted. Her insistence on framing Georgia’s elections as inherently flawed has also worn thin, particularly as Kemp’s victories have been validated by wide margins. For a party desperate to reclaim the governor’s mansion, banking on a candidate who has twice proven unelectable seems like a gamble destined to fail.
I never, never, never understood the Dem love of Stacey Abrams, the OG of election deniers and one of the great grifters in American politics. https://t.co/7hE3WZHlOl
— Cameron Poetzscher (@cpoetzscher) April 17, 2025
Abrams’ broader political ventures have also raised red flags. The New Georgia Project, a voter registration group she founded, was slapped with a $300,000 fine by the Georgia State Ethics Commission in January for failing to disclose millions in spending that propped up her 2018 campaign. This scandal casts a shadow over her claims of ethical leadership and could provide Republicans with fresh ammunition in a general election. Fair Fight, another Abrams-led organization, has downsized significantly amid mounting legal costs, according to the Journal-Constitution. These missteps suggest a pattern of mismanagement that could haunt her if she runs again.
Even Abrams’ national profile, once a strength, now feels like a double-edged sword. In 2020, former President Joe Biden briefly considered her as a running mate to diversify his ticket and counter perceptions that he was “just another old white guy.” Ultimately, he chose Kamala Harris, a decision that likely spared Democrats from tying their national brand to Abrams’ divisive reputation. Her flirtation with national prominence, coupled with her refusal to concede past defeats, has painted her as a figure more concerned with personal ambition than party unity—a perception that could alienate moderate voters in a state trending red.
For Georgia Democrats, the stakes in 2026 are immense. The party faces an uphill battle against a Republican machine that has mastered turnout and messaging. Abrams’ supporters argue she’s still the best hope to energize the base, but her detractors counter that her ceiling is too low to compete statewide. A fresh candidate—someone like Esteves or Lance-Bottoms—might have a better shot at bridging the urban-rural divide and peeling off disillusioned Republicans. Clinging to Abrams risks repeating the mistakes of 2018 and 2022, when hope trumped pragmatism.
Abrams’ outsized influence has, in some ways, stifled the emergence of new talent, as her shadow looms over every primary. Her decision to run again could suffocate the party’s chances of finding a leader capable of challenging Kemp’s successor. With Georgia’s political landscape tilting further toward Republicans, Democrats can ill afford to double down on a candidate whose flaws are so well-documented.
Stacey Abrams’ potential third campaign embodies the Democratic Party’s struggle to balance loyalty to its stars with the need for reinvention. Her resilience is admirable, but her electoral failures and organizational missteps make her a risky bet. As the 2026 race looms, Georgia Democrats must decide whether to rally behind a familiar name or take a chance on someone new. The wrong choice could cement their status as perennial also-rans in a state they once dreamed of flipping.
Stay tuned to the Conservative Column for breaking 2026 election news.
