Georgia GOP starts 'Stop Stacey' committee to thwart potential Abrams 2022 governor bid

A group of Georgia Republicans on Monday started a political-fundraising group to challenge Democrat activist and former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams' expected 2020 bid to run again for governor.

Abram's bid would be a rematch of her failed 2018 effort against GOP Gov. Brian Kemp

The group, called "Stop Stacey," say it will mount a "robust state and national fundraising operation" to specifically target Abrams with expansive an opposition research team, as well as digital ads and media buys.

The group's release describes itself as a grassroots organization of conservative voters "committed to protecting our future from Stacey Abrams, her left-wing backers, and their radical, un-American agenda."

Since her narrow defeat in 2018, Abrams has worked rigorously to register tens of thousands of new voters in the formerly solidly red state. Her efforts are credited with helping Joe Biden narrowly win Georgia in the November presidential election and helping elect Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock to the Senate in this month's runoff race. 

"After losing the White House and United States Senate in 2020, grassroots Republicans across Georgia and America are standing together to stop radical Stacey Abrams," said Jeremy Brand, a senior strategist for the group. 

The group is looking to compete with Abrams' financial network, which has so far raised close to $100 million.

Kemp, has been a supporter of former President Trump. But when he refused to overturn Biden's razor-thin electoral victory in his state over Trump, the former urned on his former ally, calling him "an obstructionist who refuses to admit that we won Georgia."

Later, Trump told supporters, "I'll be here in about a year and a half campaigning against your governor. I guarantee that."