Latest news with #StaceyAbrams
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Face it, Democrats: America wasn't going to elect a woman. We need a White man.
This piece has been formulating for me for at least four years if not longer. I wanted to write this after the 2024 election, but I waited until now because I had hoped things would be changing in the Democratic party after the horrible voting results up and down the spectrum of political offices. Unfortunately, from everything I now keep hearing from Democrats relating to "soul-searching defeats" and "party survey and reporting" to determine a new path forward, once again, Democrat leadership, or lack thereof, is completely and totally missing the very real and very ugly truth which is right in front of them. And we, as Democrats, must have this conversation right up front and be very direct and frank about it. The very ugly truth that none of the Democrat leaders are talking about and is factually staring us right in the face is simply this: American voters are simply not going to elect a woman, and especially a woman of color, for any higher-level elected office. Whether that is at the state and certainly not at the national level. And yes, we have factual EVIDENCE of this. I use as my facts the following evidence: Hillary Clinton, 2016 loss for president. Stacey Abrams, 2018 and 2022 loss for Georgia governor. The second time, she ran she lost by a larger margin than the first. Nikki Haley, 2024 loss for GOP primary for president. This is important. Yes, she is a Republican, but her loss as a woman of color is contextually important. And, obviously, most recently, Kamala Harris, 2024 loss for president. Currently, there are only 12 women holding office as governors of U.S. states with a split of eight Democrats and four GOP members. And yes, while there are 5 Democrat women of color serving in the U.S. Senate, the states they represent are heavily lean to Democrats. Opinion: COVID isn't over. RFK Jr.'s vaccine recommendation is a terrible choice. The point to all of this is simply this: While Democrats rely heavily on women and women of color for support, American voters will not elect them to higher offices. And we, as Democrats, have to face that fact. We do not have to like it. But we must acknowledge it. And in the next election cycle of 2026, Democrats need to put general election candidates forward that are male and, perhaps, whiter to have any real chance of making strong election results in the Democrats' favor. The facts are these: Democrats spend so much time being righteous that they end up never winning. Gerth: Dumb luck saved York's arm. Why can't Louisville protect its art? | Opinion The problems Democrats have are not messaging or not having the right platform or figuring out how to become "the left MAGA party." We already have the right message as evidenced by the crowds and turnout at events that Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have been hosting. The problem is, the Democrats do not have the right messenger. And we need to face the fact that the messenger has to look more like a 1950's candidate. THAT is an ugly truth and ugly fact that Democrats need to be talking out loud about. As Democrats we can either be righteous or we can be winners, but the facts have proven we cannot be both. Agree or disagree? Submit a letter to the editor. Jeff Grammer is a recently retired computer professional who holds progressive values and, more than anything else, believes in science and facts. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: US won't elect women for president. Democrats need a man | Opinion
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Delaware beams up Stacey Abrams, 'Star Trek' fan & author, for book tour. What to know
In under two hours, tickets to Stacey Abrams' book talk at Wilmington Public Library — featuring the renowned public figure, author and devoted 'Star Trek' fan — were sold out. Abrams will discuss her new thriller, 'Coded Justice,' when she tours to Wilmington on July 17. The event will be moderated by Jamar Rahming, library executive director. Abrams will join a long list of big names who have stopped by the library since 2020, such as Michael Vick, Common, Keke Palmer, Dennis Rodman and more. Here's what to know about Abrams, who is credited with helping Joe Biden win the 2020 presidential election, plus some high-profile guests that the Wilmington Library wanted to bring in over the years, including controversial political commentator, author and social media juggernaut Candace Owens. Abrams has many titles including lawyer, New York Times bestselling author, entrepreneur and producer. But most people know Abrams for being a political leader in Georgia. The Democrat served 11 years in the Georgia House of Representatives, seven as minority leader, and was the first Black woman to become the gubernatorial nominee for a major party in United States history, per her bio. In 2022, Abrams lost a high-profile gubernatorial race to Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. It marked her second defeat by Kemp in a gubernatorial election. Despite falling short of reaching the governor's seat, Abrams is credited for playing a big role in helping to turn Georgia blue in 2020, which helped Joe Biden win the presidential election over Donald Trump that year. Also in 2020, Abrams launched her production company, Sage Works Productions, Inc. She has been nominated for an Emmy Award, and her projects have received the NAACP Image Awards in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Her documentary, "All In: The Fight for Democracy," which focused on voter suppression, was shortlisted for the Academy Awards in 2020, according to her bio. Abrams' website lists her as the Ronald W. Walters Endowed Chair for Race and Black Politics at Howard University. The internet was buzzing in 2022 after Abrams made a surprise guest appearance in the season 4 finale of the sci-fi series "Star Trek: Discovery." Her role? She was "President of United Earth." "One of the reasons I love 'Star Trek' is that it is not one thing. It is so many different shows, and its so many different vantage points," Abrams, who is a Trekkie, said in a video interview uploaded to the Paramount+ YouTube channel. She added, "And what has been so remarkable about every iteration of the show is that they take that same construct, but they do it so differently and so well that you never get bored with the journey." One notable guest the Wilmington Library was unable to host in a debate last year was Candace Owens, the Wilmington Public Library director told The News Journal / Delaware Online in April. Owens is a leading conservative political commentator famous for speaking her mind. That includes her 2021 appearance on Fox News' 'The Ingraham Angle,' where she criticized Stacey Abrams, then a Georgia gubernatorial candidate. Fighting for libraries: He turned one Delaware library into celebrity hot spot. Now he's fighting for their future 'I can't imagine why any person, any sane individual, would want her leading their state,' Owens said about Abrams. Owens' self-titled podcast on YouTube has over 4.3 million subscribers, and she commands an even larger following across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and has 6.9 million followers on X alone. The podcaster has earned praise from fans and strong opposition from critics for her critiques of LGBTQ issues and Black Lives Matter, her support for Donald Trump, and her involvement in heated debates. Owens also has upset members of the Jewish community upset and been banned from YouTube. Last September, during election season, Wilmington Library welcomed social justice advocates Angela Rye and Tamika Mallory. Mallory, co-founder of Until Freedom, is known for activism in cases like the killing of Breonna Taylor and Michael Brown. Rahming hoped for a debate among Owens, Rye, and Mallory, but it never materialized because the library director couldn't meet Owens' special request. 'She requires private jet travel because she's been accosted in airports and ... she was pregnant at the time, and she just was afraid because she felt unsafe in mainstream airports,' Rahming said. Other guests Rahming wanted to bring to the Wilmington Library, over the years, include former NFL star turned-activist Colin Kaepernick and NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Rahming wanted to host Kaepernick because he's a children's author and could discuss why he chose to become a social activist while he played in the NFL. 'Some of these people ... they'd don't fly commercial anymore. They require private jets,' Rahming told The News Journal in 2023. Abdul-Jabbar falls into that category. Fun in June: These are the best events at the Delaware beaches this summer 'I think he has an incredible story that would resonate with our community,' Rahming said about the NBA legend this past April. 'But he commands $100,000 honorarium and a private jet. So, there's no way that we could meet those terms.' It's important to bring in notable, diverse people from all different walks of life, whether Republican and Democrat, because Rahming wants to give the Wilmington community, which is over 50% Black, a chance to learn from world-class people, and ask them questions. Rahming said most of the library's high-profile events with celebrities have been free to the public, and many of their guests have charged either a small fee or nothing at all. The library, which has funded these events using only private money and not taxpayer dollars, has landed many of the guests they've reached out to, the director said. The new thriller "Coded Justice" from Abrams follows a former Supreme Court clerk who landed a job at a high-end law firm in D.C. where she gets make big money. She's now a corporate internal investigator. Her new client is a mega-tech firm that's on the forefront of developing a new integrated AI system that might revolutionize the medical industry. But strange things start to happen during the testing of this new tech, including the death of an engineer. Readers will dive down this deep, winding rabbit hole with the corporate investigator in 'Coded Justice.' The book releases on major platforms like Amazon on July 15. If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@ Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Stacey Abrams is coming to Delaware with new thriller. What to know
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Democratic leaders visit MS Coast to rally vote in high-stakes Gulfport election
Suddenly, after months of relentless campaigns, the national political leaders who arrived this week in Gulfport are trying to force new urgency into the last days of the mayor's race. 'We don't quit,' Democratic politician and activist Stacey Abrams said at a Sunday campaign stop in Gulfport several miles from where she grew up. 'They've been trying to stop us for 200 years. And what we are going to do instead is show up.' Abrams appeared with U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson to campaign for mayoral candidate Sonya Williams Barnes at an event advertised as a kick-off to the election on Tuesday. In impassioned speeches, the Democratic leaders called the race a 'bellwether election' that could signal broader change across Mississippi and even the country. But the appearance of two prominent Democrats was also a sign of how tense the race has become. Abrams spoke four days after Mississippi's Republican Attorney General said she was investigating Barnes following Republican complaints that some locals gave restaurant vouchers to voters in what the party calls a violation of state law. Barnes and other Democrats have dismissed the accusations as a false and politically-motivated distraction. And conservatives are energized too. At a Friday rally for Republican candidate Hugh Keating, top leaders warned their party that the race was close and pleaded that they vote. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina spoke alongside U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, U.S. Rep. Mike Ezell and outgoing Gulfport Mayor Billy Hewes. 'Call your friends. Call your neighbors,' Scott told the crowd on Friday. 'This is a race that will require you to go the extra mile.' About 200 people gathered on a usually-quiet stretch of 31st Avenue to hear Abrams, Barnes and Thompson, who also pleaded that residents urge everyone they know to vote. The leaders said federal cuts by the Trump administration were worrisome for Gulfport and told supporters Barnes would be an ally they could turn to in local government for help. 'All you have to do is go out and vote,' Thompson said. The crowd, sweating in the heat, clapped and cheered approval. Turnout, often low in local elections, has already been notable: City officials said last week they had received over 1,000 absentee ballots compared to just 177 during the last mayoral election. Barnes won the April Democratic primary with 3,316 votes — over 600 more than outgoing Republican Mayor Billy Hewes won in the 2021 general election. Keating had no opponent in the 2025 Republican primary. Abrams said she came to Gulfport after she heard some Republicans had called her an outsider part of a national Democratic effort to turn Gulfport blue. 'With President Trump's success, the Democrats are pretty angry right now,' Hyde-Smith told the Republican rally on Friday. 'This is called revenge, getting back and gaining ground,' she added. 'We can't seem to get the national Democrats out of this race.' Barnes has said she alone is responsible for running her campaign and called similar statements divisive. Abrams spent much of her childhood in the city, and she and Barnes are the children of United Methodist ministers who were friends. Still, Keating said last week that the Attorney General's investigation is concerning to Republicans. How fast it will proceed is unclear because the Attorney General's office does not comment on open inquiries. Barnes did not address the investigation on Sunday but said last week she had met with two of the Attorney General's investigators. Both campaigns have been calling residents and knocking on doors in a last-ditch effort to encourage turnout and lure undecided voters before polls close on Tuesday. 'We can't quit,' Keating said Friday. 'We're noticing some very positive results.' 'We need to win,' Barnes told voters on Sunday. 'But we can win only with you.' Anita Lee contributed reporting.
Miami Herald
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
FAMU alum running for Governor in Georgia
Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has officially entered the 2026 Georgia gubernatorial race, bringing her extensive leadership experience and a renewed focus on unity to the forefront of state politics. A proud alumna of Florida A&M University (FAMU), Bottoms aims to become Georgia's first Black female governor, following in the footsteps of fellow HBCU graduate Stacey Abrams, who previously ran for the position in 2018 and 2022. Bottoms, 55, highlighted her 'battle-tested executive leadership' from her tenure as Atlanta's mayor, during which she managed significant public safety issues and supported police and firefighter pay raises. She also served as a senior advisor in the Biden administration, focusing on public engagement and voter protection. Her campaign emphasizes expanding Medicaid, supporting small businesses, and workforce training as key priorities for Georgia's future. In contrast, Stacey Abrams, a Spelman College alumna, made history as the first Black woman to be a major-party gubernatorial nominee in the U.S. Despite her groundbreaking campaigns, Abrams faced defeats in both the 2018 and 2022 elections against Republican Brian Kemp. Her efforts, however, significantly increased voter turnout and brought national attention to voter suppression issues in Georgia. Bottoms' entry into the race underscores the continued influence of HBCU graduates in shaping Georgia's political landscape. FAMU alumni has a strong HBCU community in the Atlanta Metro area which could be a galvanizing cornerstone for her campaign. Her candidacy not only represents a potential historic milestone but also reflects a commitment to addressing systemic issues affecting all Georgians, regardless of race or political affiliation. The post FAMU alum running for Governor in Georgia appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Associated Press
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms launches bid for Georgia governor
ATLANTA (AP) — Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms says her single term as Atlanta mayor gave her 'battle-tested executive leadership' that she can offer to Georgia voters as she runs for governor. Bottoms, 55, officially launched her campaign Tuesday, becoming the second well-known Democrat to jump into the 2026 race. State Sen. Jason Esteves of Atlanta announced his campaign in April. 'As we are facing the uncertainty and the anxiety that's being created in Washington right now, I'm running to be a fighter for Georgia,' Bottoms told The Associated Press on Monday. 'I want to be able to fight and deliver for our communities, whether it's from expanding Medicaid, to delivering for our small businesses, to making sure that people have a pathway to vocational and career training or college,' she said. Bottoms and Esteves hope to succeed Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who can't run again at the end of his second term. On the Republican side, Attorney General Chris Carr kicked off his campaign in December, while Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is expected to announce that he's running sometime this summer. Among other Democrats, former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond has expressed interest, and two-time candidate Stacey Abrams could choose to run again. Also running as a Democrat is the Rev. Olujimi 'Olu' Brown, a Methodist minister. A lawyer and former magistrate judge, Bottoms won election to the Atlanta City Council in 2009 and was reelected in 2013 before outgoing Mayor Kasim Reed endorsed her as his successor. Bottoms narrowly was elected and served one term that was defined by the pandemic. Every Atlanta mayor since World War II had sought a second term before the day in 2021 when Bottoms shocked Georgia's political establishment by saying she would not. But she says that didn't reflect a lack of desire for public service. 'Not having the energy to do the job, that was not the case. In fact, I ran through the tape,' Bottoms said, arguing she continued to accomplish things until the end of her term. As an early supporter of former President Joe Biden, Bottoms was among those considered to be his vice president. After stepping down as mayor, she joined the Biden administration as director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. Bottoms said she's not worried about being associated with an unpopular Biden. She also said she thinks her record on crime and public safety is a positive one, even though her administration struggled with the same COVID-19 era rise in murders as did other cities nationwide. 'As mayor I gave our police and firefighters a historic pay raise. I actually supported the building of the public safety (training) center in Atlanta that's servicing people across the region,' Bottoms said. 'So I have a very strong record when it comes to public safety.' Proponents say the $118 million project, now complete, was sorely needed to replace outdated facilities. One early night of Atlanta protests following the death of George Floyd in 2020 ended with the burning of a police car and broken windows downtown that were broadcast worldwide. Bottoms won national praise that night for ordering protesters to 'go home' as she stood alongside Atlanta hip-hop stars Killer Mike and T.I. But weeks after Floyd's death, Rayshard Brooks, a Black man, was killed by an Atlanta police officer after a struggle following a field sobriety test. Atlanta's police chief resigned hours later. After one of the officers was criminally charged, Atlanta police officers called in sick in waves. Later, protesters burned down the Wendy's where Brooks died and an 8-year-old girl, Secoriea Turner, was killed when the car she was riding in was shot at near the restaurant. The turmoil led then-President Donald Trump and Kemp to repeatedly attack Bottoms' leadership. But Bottoms is betting that it's Trump that Democratic voters will view as the chaos agent. 'My record has been one of providing steady leadership during chaotic times,' Bottoms said.
