Stacey Abrams’ voting rights organization has been forced to lay off dozens of staffers as her debts spiral, jeopardizing her pet project.
The Atlanta Constitution-Journal reported on Abrams’ plight as ‘Fair Fight,’ founded in 2018 after her election loss, faces a “restructuring” of its $2.5 million debt.
According to finance records, Fair Fight has just $1.9 million in cash.
Abrams’ top aide, Lauren Groh-Wargo, said she will be returning to manage the cuts, which will see between 25 and 75 percent of all staff culled.
The layoffs will likely destroy the liberal organization that delivered two U.S. Senate seats for Democrats and helped Joe Biden narrowly win Georgia in 2020.
Since the organization’s inception, Fair Fight has raised more than $100 million.
The group’s financial woes are primarily attributed to protracted legal battles.
After True the Vote n attempted to throw out 250,000 voter registrations in 2020, Fair Fight embarked on a three-year court battle.
Greg Bluestein reports for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
“The Fair Fight political and advocacy organization Stacey Abrams founded is laying off staffers and narrowing its mission as it struggles with mounting debt from lengthy court battles over voting rights that racked up massive legal bills.
Lauren Groh-Wargo, who left the organization in 2021 to manage Abrams’ unsuccessful campaign for governor, said in an interview that she’s returning as interim chief executive to lead a “restructuring” as it faces $2.5 million in debt with only $1.9 million in cash in the bank.
The organization’s voting rights, media, fundraising and grassroots organizing efforts will be slashed, and it will pare back its use of outside consultants and vendors. Some 20 employees — or 75% of the staff — will be cut.”
Last week, a federal court ruled against Fair Fight.
A second case against the state of Georgia over absentee ballot restrictions resulted in a massive loss and an order to pay $231,000 in legal costs back to the state.
Abrams distanced herself from the day-to-day operations of Fair Fight after losing her rematch to Republican Governor Brian Kemp in 2022.
Shortly after, the group said its national fundraising outreach was drying up, sidelining a major Democratic organizational arm in a key swing state.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump has an eight-point lead over President Joe Biden, according to polling from last month.
The state is also involved in a legal case against President Trump brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
READ: Stacey Abrams’ Brother-in-Law Arrested for Human Trafficking, Child Sex Abuse
