Stacey Abrams has resigned her position as state representative as she seeks to become the nation’s first black female governor in history.
In a letter to Gov. Nathan Deal dated Aug. 22,, Abrams, who represented District 89 in the state house, resigned effectively immediately.
A special election to replace Abrams, who has held the seat since 2006, will be held this November. District 89 includes portions of Atlanta in DeKalb County, including Gresham Park and parts of DeKalb Avenue and Memorial Drive.
Abrams, who also held the position of House Minority Leader, is seeking to replace Deal, who, after being elected to serve two terms, cannot run for reelection. Abrams is one of two Democratic state legislators – along with state Rep. Stacey Evans – seeking to win a governorship that has been in GOP hands since 2002.
So far, four Republicans – Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, Secretary of State Brian Kemp, state Sen. Michael Williams, and Hunter Bradley Hill – have announced their intentions to run.
Georgia’s next gubernatorial election will be held in November 2018.
