Abrams supporters share what her campaign trail meant for them as voters on the intersection of race, gender and class.
By Aaleah McConnell
Excitement filled the ballroom of the Hyatt Regency on Tuesday night as supporters swarmed in anticipation of a win for their candidate, Stacey Abrams. The celebration went on, even as it became clearer that Abrams wouldn’t be confronting the crowd with the win many were hoping for that night.
At 7:50 p.m. votes were still being counted. It was too close to call, but Abrams was off to a promising head start with 64% of the vote. By 8:45 p.m. tensions grew as Abrams’ leading streak started to dwindle.
A win for Abrams meant a win for everyone including women of color. Abrams, whose victory also meant the representation of the first Black and first female Governor of Georgia, inspired so many women of every age and class in the state to rally behind her.
Nephateria Mann is a mother, wellness coach and campaign worker for the grassroots organization Casa, which provides voting resources and advocates for immigrants and people of color. Mann’s eyes gleamed with hope as she recollected going door-to-door with fellow Casa organizers to share why a vote for Abrams was important to the livelihood of women like herself, and to the future of young girls like her daughter.
“I’m really excited about what she stands for, as far as education and health care,” Mann said, “Making sure funding gets to the place where it needs to be and not just sitting. . . I would really like to see what I contribute to on a day-to-day basis actually being put to work.”
Abrams stepping into office represented much more than policy changes to Mann. It would have been a historical win for women’s empowerment, but it hits different when that person making history looks like you.
“As a black woman that believes in empowerment, Stacey being in seat means a lot of things for me,” Mann said.
Yana Barta, Georgia Tech student and CEO of the Georgia Youth Justice Coalition, took to the stage that night representing young voters and spreading her message of hope. Barta may be a freshman in university, but she and other young voters are pushing for representation in the political landscape, and as a candidate, Abrams answered their call.
“I think that she really represents this idea that, you know, politics is a place that can be accessible,” Barta said, “where our representatives actually care about the people that they represent; where our needs as young voters are met and uplifted, rather than ignored.”
Barta reflected on the recent shut-down of the Atlanta Medical Center as a call to action to expand Medicaid, provide trauma relief for minority communities and provide abortion access for Georgians – all of which are policies that Abrams stood behind firmly that are now at risk of being lost.
Time passed like a trickle of sap down a tree’s bark. But as the evening went on, it finally hit that the world women like Yana, Nephateria and her daughter were fighting for will continue being an ongoing battle.
Kemp’s re-election was announced at 11:11 p.m. and the results were clear; the four additional years Abrams spent campaigning for voters’ rights did not reflect in this race as it had in the 2020 presidential election.
Yet, the celebration continued. The DJ played Swag Surfin’ which is an anthem of sorts, a song of triumph and of unbothered confidence within the Black community. What an accurate display of the mood that evening.
Her supporters took pride in the foundation she laid for female voters, BIPOC voters, working-class voters and young voters. Even though Abrams stated she will not seek the governor’s seat again, this defeat does not signal the end of the Abrams Era.
As many waited around until midnight, Abrams finally stepped to the podium to give her concession speech and to remind those who stand with her that the work she does in Georgia communities will remain her top priority.
“I’m doing everything in my power to ensure that the people of Georgia have a voice. . . The first choice I made was to put the people at the heart of my campaign, Abrams said, “This is why I am proud that over the last year, we have shaken the hands and hugged 1000s of people.”
Abrams lamented on policies related to healthcare, climate change, education and gun safety that she won’t be able to enforce firsthand. Others, including Alaina Reaves, also mourn the political loss.
Reaves is a Democratic National Committee representative for Georgia and with tears crowding in the corners of her eyes she said what the final election results meant for her.
“This is devastating. More so because it hurts to know that Georgia had the opportunity to have leader Abrams as their governor, and how it would have benefited them in the long run,” Reaves said.
Keeping in mind the Senate runoffs in December between Democratic Incumbent, Raphael Warnock, and Republican candidate Herschel Walker, Abrams reminded the crowd that, though the fight is ongoing, it is important to stay resilient and to stay focused.
“We ran that race. And to the full host of those who stand and fight, and run, and believe, I say that our vision and our values are never clouded, that our intention is righteous, that our future is bright,” Abrams said, “And while we may not write the story today, there will always be another chapter.”