In a stunning rebuke, the New Georgia Project, a high-profile voting rights organization founded by prominent Democrat Stacey Abrams, has been slapped with a $300,000 fine by state ethics officials in Georgia. The hefty penalty, the largest in state history, comes after a lengthy investigation found the group illegally campaigned for Abrams and other Democratic candidates during the hotly contested 2018 gubernatorial race.
Web of Violations Exposed
The state ethics commission’s probe uncovered a pattern of brazen campaign finance violations by the New Georgia Project. Investigators highlighted damning evidence, including:
- Explicit scripts used by canvassers and phone bankers to advocate for Abrams
- Social media promotions of donation links to Democratic campaigns
- Improper campaigning for an Atlanta-area transit referendum
In total, the organization admitted to a staggering 16 violations of state election law, encompassing $4.2 million in contributions and $3.2 million in expenditures during the 2018 race. The commission voted unanimously to impose the unprecedented fine after investigators laid out the extensive scope of wrongdoing.
“If an organization is electioneering in Georgia as an independent committee, they have to register with the commission…They have to disclose the money they raise and the source of that money. They have to disclose how they are spending that.”
– Dave Emadi, Executive Secretary of the Georgia Ethics Commission
Blurred Lines and Tangled Ties
At the heart of the scandal lies the murky relationship between the New Georgia Project and its affiliated Super PAC, the New Georgia Project Action Fund. Investigators found the two entities failed to maintain sufficient independence, a key legal requirement. Making matters worse, the Rev. Raphael Warnock, now a sitting U.S. Senator, chaired the New Georgia Project’s board during the time in question.
The case languished for years, facing delays and appeals, a symptom of Georgia’s historically lax political ethics enforcement. But new leadership at the state ethics commission aggressively pursued the complaint, culminating in this landmark decision years after the alleged violations first surfaced.
Fallout and Accountability
While the New Georgia Project has vowed to put the matter behind them and focus on their ongoing voter engagement efforts, the sheer scale of the fine is likely to cast a long shadow. It’s a stark warning to advocacy groups that skirting campaign finance laws, no matter how noble the cause may seem, will not be tolerated.
The case also underscores the challenges watchdogs face in untangling the complex web of “dark money” and “independent expenditures” that increasingly dominate modern American elections. With the 2024 campaign cycle already taking shape, it’s a wake-up call for greater transparency and stricter oversight.
As one of the preeminent voting rights organizations in a perennial swing state, the New Georgia Project has carved out an ambitious mission of combating voter suppression and boosting civic engagement in underrepresented communities. But this record fine is a stark reminder that even the most laudable of goals must be pursued within the boundaries of the law. The integrity of our democratic process depends on it.
