Stacey Abrams ended speculation Tuesday that she would mount a 2020 Senate challenge in Georgia but is still leaving the door open to a presidential run.
In an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the 45-year-old Democrat said that she would not run against incumbent Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., in 2020.
“I’ve been deeply honored by so many fellow Georgians asking me to serve,” Abrams said. “But my responsibility is not simply to run because the job is available. I need to run because I want to do the job.”
“The Senate is a great institution,” Abrams added. “But, for me, it’s not the role that best suits those needs.”
Abrams lost the closely watched 2018 gubernatorial race against Republican Brian Kemp by a small margin. The close race in a reliably red state like Georgia plunged Abrams into the national spotlight. She has teased the idea of a presidential run, and there has also been speculation she could be whoever wins the Democratic nomination’s vice president.
Abrams might also launch a rematch bid to unseat Kemp when he is up for election again in 2022.
