ATLANTA — Stacey Abrams, a prominent voting rights advocate, has been subpoenaed by a Georgia Senate committee investigating alleged campaign finance violations by the New Georgia Project, a voter outreach group with which she was affiliated. The move has sparked concerns about whether the investigation is politically motivated and intended to suppress voter engagement efforts.

The Senate Special Committee on Investigations announced Monday that Abrams, along with New Georgia Project leaders Lauren Groh-Wargo and Nsé Ufot, must appear before lawmakers at the State Capitol on Friday. The committee, led by Republican state legislators, claims the investigation is necessary to ensure transparency and accountability in elections.

The probe stems from findings by the Georgia State Ethics Commission that the New Georgia Project and its affiliated Action Fund violated campaign finance laws during the 2018 election cycle. The groups admitted to 16 violations and agreed to pay a $300,000 fine, the largest campaign finance penalty in Georgia history.

The New Georgia Project, which focused on registering and mobilizing voters, particularly among marginalized communities, shut down and dissolved in 2025 following mounting financial and legal challenges. Critics argue that the group was deliberately targeted and subjected to excessive scrutiny due to its success in increasing voter participation.

“This investigation raises serious questions about whether the Georgia Senate is using its power to silence and intimidate organizations that are working to empower voters,” said Elena Parent, a Democratic state senator. “We need to ensure that investigations are conducted fairly and impartially, without targeting individuals or groups based on their political views.”

Advocates for voting rights argue that the investigation could have a chilling effect on voter registration and mobilization efforts, particularly in communities of color. They point to a history of voter suppression tactics in Georgia and other states, including restrictive voter ID laws, gerrymandering, and the purging of voter rolls.

The focus on Abrams, a nationally recognized figure in the fight for voting rights, is seen by some as an attempt to discredit her and undermine her influence. Abrams narrowly lost the 2018 gubernatorial election to Republican Gov. Brian Kemp and lost again in 2022. She has since dedicated herself to combating what she describes as a move toward authoritarianism under President Trump.

“Stacey Abrams has been a tireless advocate for voting rights, and this investigation appears to be a politically motivated attack designed to silence her and suppress voter turnout,” said LaTosha Brown, co-founder of Black Voters Matter. “We must stand in solidarity with Abrams and the New Georgia Project and resist any attempts to undermine our democracy.”

The investigation raises concerns about the potential for selective enforcement of campaign finance laws and the weaponization of government power to target political opponents. Advocates are calling for transparency and accountability in the investigation to ensure that it is conducted fairly and without bias.

“It is crucial that this investigation is conducted with the utmost integrity and transparency,” said Kristen Clarke, president of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “We must ensure that the investigation is not used as a tool to suppress voter participation or silence advocates for voting rights.”

The case also highlights the need for campaign finance reform to address the influence of money in politics and ensure that all candidates and groups have a fair opportunity to participate in the electoral process. Current campaign finance laws often favor wealthy donors and corporations, giving them an outsized voice in political debates.

The Georgia Senate's investigation into the New Georgia Project and Stacey Abrams could have significant implications for voting rights and political participation in the state. Advocates are closely monitoring the investigation to ensure that it is conducted fairly and that the rights of voters and voting rights organizations are protected.