New Georgia Project Fined for Finance Violations

The New Georgia Project, a nonprofit voting rights organization founded by Stacey Abrams, has been fined $300,000 by the Georgia State Ethics Commission for campaign finance violations, marking the largest fine in the state's history. The group, along with its fundraising counterpart, the New Georgia Project Action Fund, admitted to spending $3.2 million in support of Abrams's 2018 gubernatorial campaign and other Democratic candidates without registering as a political action committee. This violation involved undisclosed contributions amounting to $4.2 million and expenditures on canvassing and promotional materials. The violations, which occurred during Abrams's campaign and a 2019 public transportation referendum, were uncovered after a six-year investigation. Although Abrams had left the organization in 2017, the fine concludes a lengthy legal battle and highlights significant enforcement of campaign finance laws. The organizations have acknowledged the infractions and expressed a desire to move forward.