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Stacey Abrams made history as the nation's first Black woman to win a major party's nomination for governor when she won Georgia's gubernatorial primary race back in May. Now the first African American president of the United States has endorsed her for Georgia's next governor. Barack Obama announced in a statement:
“I am so excited to endorse Stacey Abrams for Governor of Georgia. She’s not running a campaign built on division or distraction; she’s running to lead one Georgia where everybody has opportunity, and everybody’s voice is heard. And she’s got the record of building consensus that shows she can deliver – with good jobs, great public education, expanded Medicaid, and secure, affordable health insurance for everyone. In a time when too many folks are focused simply on how to win an election, Stacey’s somebody who cares about something more important: why we should. That’s the kind of politics we should practice. That’s why I'm proud to give Stacey Abrams my support."
Obama endorsed a total of 81 candidates for the 2018 elections.
Today I’m proud to endorse such a wide and impressive array of Democratic candidates – leaders as diverse, patriotic, and big-hearted as the America they’re running to represent: pic.twitter.com/gWzalQhFas
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 1, 2018
Abrams responded to Obama's endorsement by saying: “It is a profound honor to receive President Obama’s endorsement. President Obama’s legacy is marked by integrity, a deep commitment to service, and an ability to find solutions that put the well-being of people first. I am grateful for his support as I continue a campaign for governor grounded in hope, optimism, and a boundless belief that we can do more to make sure every family in Georgia has the opportunity to thrive."
Abrams will face Republican Brian Kemp in November's generational election, and if she wins, she will become the nation's first Black woman governor, Georgia's first Democratic governor in 15 years, as well as the state's first woman and first African American governor.