• The New Georgia Project, founded by Stacey Abrams, was fined $300,000 for campaign finance violations in 2018.
• The nonprofit admitted to spending $3.2M on campaigns without disclosure and failing to report funds for a 2019 referendum.
• The case ends a six-year legal battle, with the group vowing to refocus on its mission.

A voter registration nonprofit founded by former Georgia state Rep. Stacey Abrams received a $300,000 fine on Wednesday for violating campaign finance laws during the 2018 gubernatorial race. The New Georgia Project (NGP) and its affiliated action fund admitted to improperly spending $3.2 million to support Abrams and other candidates without disclosing the contributions, marking the largest ethics fine in Georgia’s history.

Nonprofit Missteps Lead to Penalty

The New Georgia Project, created in 2013 to increase voter participation among minority groups, used funds to pay canvassers and distribute campaign materials supporting Abrams’ bid for governor. However, the organization failed to disclose these expenditures and did not register as an independent campaign committee, breaching state law. The Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission, which investigated the infractions, reported at least 16 violations by the nonprofit.

In addition, the group failed to report $646,000 in donations and $174,000 in spending related to a failed 2019 referendum for Gwinnett County to join the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA). These lapses further compounded the organization's legal troubles and resulted in the landmark fine.

A Lengthy Legal Battle Comes to a Close

The settlement concluded a six-year legal dispute between the ethics commission and the nonprofit. According to David Emadi, the commission’s executive director, the $300,000 fine reflects the severity of the violations. Notably, this case follows a prior $50,000 fine levied against another Abrams-aligned advocacy group, Gente for Abrams, for improper financial disclosures during the same election cycle.

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Aria Branch, counsel for the New Georgia Project, expressed relief over the resolution. “We are glad to finally put this matter behind us,” she said in a statement, emphasizing the nonprofit’s commitment to registering and engaging Black, brown, and young voters in Georgia. “We accept this outcome and are eager to turn the page on activities that took place more than five years ago.”

Political Implications and Leadership Defense

At the time of the violations, Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) served as the board chair of the New Georgia Project. A spokesperson for Warnock clarified that he had no involvement in compliance decisions, stating that his role was focused solely on championing voting rights. “Compliance decisions were not a part of that work,” said Michael Brewer, Warnock’s representative.

Abrams, who became a national figure for her narrow loss to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp in 2018, has since run for governor again but lost by a larger margin in 2022. Despite her electoral defeats, she has not ruled out the possibility of running in 2026.

Accusations of Political Targeting

The New Georgia Project argued that its actions were consistent with other nonprofits and accused the predominantly Republican ethics commission of political bias. The panel, composed of four Republicans and one Democrat, rejected these claims, citing the evidence of financial misconduct.

Georgia’s ethics commission has increasingly scrutinized nonprofit political activity, heightening tensions in a state with a closely contested political landscape. Meanwhile, Abrams has continued to defend her election efforts, though controversies surrounding her campaign financing have persisted.

What’s Next for Stacey Abrams and NGP?

As the New Georgia Project attempts to move forward from this legal battle, it remains to be seen how the case will affect Abrams’ political future and the nonprofit’s mission. The organization has pledged to focus on voter registration efforts, but the high-profile case raises questions about the oversight of politically active nonprofits.

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We want to hear from you: What are your thoughts on the ethics commission’s decision? Do you think nonprofits engaging in voter mobilization should face stricter regulations? Share your comments below.

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