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- Two pro-Stacey Abrams groups have been fined $300,000 by the Georgia Ethics Commission for violating campaign finance laws.
- The New Georgia Project and its Action Fund failed to disclose millions in contributions and expenditures during Abrams’ 2018 gubernatorial campaign.
- This fine is the largest ever imposed by the Georgia Ethics Commission.
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Essential Context
The New Georgia Project, founded by Stacey Abrams in 2013, and its affiliated New Georgia Project Action Fund, have admitted to 16 violations of Georgia’s campaign finance laws. These violations occurred during Abrams’ 2018 gubernatorial campaign and a 2019 public transportation referendum in Gwinnett County.
Core Players
- Stacey Abrams – Founder of the New Georgia Project, two-time Democratic gubernatorial candidate.
- Raphael Warnock – Former CEO of the New Georgia Project, current U.S. Senator from Georgia.
- New Georgia Project – Nonprofit voter registration organization.
- New Georgia Project Action Fund – Nonprofit social welfare organization.
- Georgia Ethics Commission – State agency responsible for enforcing campaign finance laws.
Key Numbers
- $300,000 – Fine imposed on the New Georgia Project and its Action Fund.
- $4.2 million – Contributions raised by the groups for the 2018 election cycle.
- $3.2 million – Expenditures made by the groups to support Abrams’ campaign in 2018.
- $646,000 – Undisclosed contributions for the 2019 Gwinnett County transit referendum.
- $174,000 – Undisclosed expenditures for the 2019 Gwinnett County transit referendum.
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The Catalyst
The Georgia Ethics Commission’s investigation, which began in 2019, uncovered significant violations of state campaign finance laws. The commission found that the New Georgia Project and its Action Fund failed to register as a political committee and did not disclose massive amounts of contributions and expenditures.
“This represents the largest and most significant instance of an organization illegally influencing our statewide elections in Georgia that we have ever discovered,” said David Emadi, executive director of the Georgia Ethics Commission.
Inside Forces
The New Georgia Project was established to engage in voter registration activities, particularly targeting nonwhite and young voters. Raphael Warnock, now a U.S. Senator, led the organization from 2017 to January 2020. The groups’ activities included voter canvassing, social media engagement, and operating field offices.
The current leadership admitted to the violations in a consent decree, agreeing to pay the substantial fine. “We are glad to finally put this matter behind us so the New Georgia Project can fully devote its time and attention to its efforts to civically engage and register black, brown, and young voters in Georgia,” a representative stated.
Power Dynamics
The fine highlights the power and influence of state ethics commissions in enforcing campaign finance laws. It also underscores the ongoing scrutiny of political organizations and their compliance with transparency requirements.
Sen. Warnock’s office has distanced him from the violations, stating he was not involved in compliance decisions during his tenure.
Outside Impact
The ruling sets a precedent for future enforcement actions against organizations that fail to comply with campaign finance regulations. It sends a clear message that such violations will be met with significant penalties.
The case has broader implications for campaign finance transparency and the role of nonprofits in political campaigns.
Future Forces
The New Georgia Project and other similar organizations will likely face increased scrutiny in future elections. This may lead to more stringent compliance measures and greater transparency in campaign financing.
The fine could also influence how other states approach campaign finance regulation, potentially leading to more uniform national standards.
Data Points
- 2013: Stacey Abrams founded the New Georgia Project.
- 2017: Raphael Warnock became CEO of the New Georgia Project.
- 2018: The groups supported Abrams’ gubernatorial campaign, violating campaign finance laws.
- 2019: The groups campaigned for a public transportation referendum in Gwinnett County, also violating finance laws.
- 2025: The Georgia Ethics Commission imposed a $300,000 fine on the groups.
The significant fine and the admission of wrongdoing by the New Georgia Project and its Action Fund underscore the importance of transparency and compliance in campaign finance. This case serves as a warning to political organizations and sets a precedent for stringent enforcement of campaign finance laws.
