Georgia Senate Probes Stacey Abrams’ Nonprofit Over Alleged Election Fundraising Violations

Georgia Senate Probes Stacey Abrams’ Nonprofit Over Alleged Election Fundraising Violations

On February 28, 2025, the Georgia Senate initiated a formal investigation into Stacey Abrams and her nonprofit, the New Georgia Project, focusing on allegations of election fundraising crimes. This move marks a significant escalation in the scrutiny of Abrams, a prominent Democratic figure and voting rights advocate, and her organization, which has been a key player in Georgia’s political landscape. The investigation stems from concerns over the nonprofit’s financial activities, particularly its fundraising practices and potential violations of state election laws.

The New Georgia Project, founded by Abrams in 2013, aimed to boost voter registration and civic engagement, especially among Black, brown, and young voters in Georgia. Abrams, who stepped away from leadership in 2017 to focus on her gubernatorial campaign, gained national recognition for her efforts to expand the state’s electorate, which many credit for flipping Georgia blue in the 2020 presidential election. However, the organization has faced mounting legal and ethical challenges in recent years, culminating in this latest probe.

The Georgia Senate’s investigation follows a January 2025 ruling by the Georgia Ethics Commission, which fined the New Georgia Project and its affiliated New Georgia Project Action Fund $300,000—the largest fine in state history for an ethics violation. The commission found that the groups had committed 16 instances of illegal activity during the 2018 election cycle, raising $4.2 million and spending $3.2 million to support Abrams’ first gubernatorial bid and other Democratic candidates without proper registration or disclosure as required by state law. These activities included canvassing, distributing literature, and leveraging social media to promote Abrams’ campaign, all while operating as a nonprofit prohibited from direct political advocacy under certain tax-exempt statuses.

The Senate’s current inquiry appears to broaden the scope beyond the 2018 violations. Lawmakers are reportedly examining whether additional campaign finance irregularities occurred, including the New Georgia Project’s receipt of substantial federal funding. Posts on X and various news outlets, such as The Gateway Pundit, have highlighted the nonprofit’s alleged ties to Power Forward Communities, a group that received $2 billion from the Biden administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Critics question whether these funds were improperly funneled into political activities, though no concrete evidence has been publicly substantiated as of now.

Adding complexity to the investigation, the Senate is also looking into recent internal turmoil at the New Georgia Project. Earlier this year, Francys Johnson, the organization’s head, resigned following the ethics fine and amid allegations of firings linked to staff efforts to unionize. These developments have fueled speculation that the nonprofit’s financial and operational practices may conceal further wrongdoing.

Abrams, who lost to Republican Brian Kemp in both the 2018 and 2022 Georgia gubernatorial races, has long been a polarizing figure. Her supporters argue that the investigation is a politically motivated attack by Republicans seeking to undermine her influence and legacy as a voting rights champion. They point to the timing—coming after her high-profile role in Democratic successes—and the involvement of figures like David Emadi, the Ethics Commission director and a Kemp donor, as evidence of partisan bias. Critics, however, assert that the probe is a necessary step to ensure transparency and accountability in election-related fundraising, especially given the scale of the New Georgia Project’s operations.

The Senate’s investigation is still in its early stages, and its full scope remains unclear. A separate, ongoing Ethics Commission complaint alleging illegal coordination between Abrams’ 2018 campaign and outside groups could intersect with the Senate’s efforts, potentially amplifying the legal and political stakes. For now, the investigation promises to reignite debates over campaign finance laws, nonprofit political involvement, and Abrams’ enduring impact on Georgia politics.

As of today, neither Abrams nor the New Georgia Project has issued an official response to the Senate’s probe. The outcome could have far-reaching implications—not only for Abrams’ future political aspirations but also for the broader ecosystem of voter advocacy organizations navigating the fine line between activism and electioneering in a deeply divided state.