Washington Post analysis says Stacey Abrams 'played up' stolen election claims until it was 'untenable'

close

Video

'The View' asks Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams about 'voter suppression' in the state

On Wednesday, "The View" co-host Sunny Hostin asked Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams about "voter suppression" in the state impacting the race. 

A Washington Post analysis said that Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams "played up" stolen election claims until it was "untenable" for people who advocate for "American democratic norms and values."

The Washington Post's Glenn Kessler, editor and writer for The Fact Checker feature of the paper, wrote in a piece published on Thursday that Abrams' many claims that she "won" the 2018 gubernatorial election in Georgia, or her declaring that the election was "stolen" in 2018 look "different" now because of former President Donald Trump. 

"But what might have appeared at the time as a savvy appeal to voters who felt disenfranchised looks different now that Trump and his GOP allies have taken election denialism to a dangerous new level," he wrote. 

Kessler said she "played up claims the election was stolen until such tactics became untenable for anyone who claims to be an advocate for American democratic norms and values."

Stacey Abrams, Democratic gubernatorial candidate for Georgia, speaks during a campaign event in Reynolds, Georgia, US, on Saturday, June 4, 2022. (Dustin Chambers/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

STACEY ABRAMS RECEIVED SIX-FIGURE INCOME FROM MYSTERIOUS CORPORATE ENTITY 

Abrams was recently praised on "The View" for not conceding to Gov. Brian Kemp, R-Ga., in 2018. "I have never denied that I lost. I don’t live in the governor’s mansion. I would have noticed," she said during her September appearance on the ABC show. 

Kessler noted multiple instances where Abrams claimed she "won" the 2018 election.

Abrams delivered a speech at the annual convention of Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network in 2019 and said, "despite the final tally and the inauguration [of Gov. Brian Kemp] and the situation we find ourselves in, I do have a very affirmative statement to make: We won." 

STACEY ABRAMS SAYS GEORGIA ‘THE WORST STATES IN THE COUNTRY TO LIVE,’ DESPITE OWNING MULTIPLE HOUSES THERE

The Washington Post building in Washington D.C.  (REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo)

"Concession needs to say something is right and true and proper," Abrams said at the time. "You can't trick me into saying it was right."

Kessler also listed an example from 2021 where Abrams told Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, that "Brian Kemp won under the rules that were in place."

"What I object to are rules that permitted thousands of Georgia voters to be denied their participation in this election or to have their votes cast out," she said. "My full language was that it was stolen from the voters of Georgia. We do not know what they would have done, because not every eligible Georgian was permitted to participate fully in the election." 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams speaks to the media during a press conference at the Israel Baptist Church as voters head to the polls during the Georgia primary on May 24, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Abrams told Axios in February that she would "acknowledge the victor" of the 2022 gubernatorial election and said she has never failed to acknowledge the legal outcome of an election. 

She said she doesn't ever want the American people to be in a place where they "cannot legitimately question" and criticize systems.