Democratic politician Stacey Abrams is not running for president, but is not opposed to being the running mate for the nominee.

The Georgia Democrat, 45, revealed she will focus on identifying and preventing voter suppression efforts around the US. She hopes to enfranchise voters in 20 states through an initiative called Fair Fight 2020, NPR reported.

“There are only two things stopping us in 2020: making sure people have a reason to vote and that they have the right to vote,” Abrams said on August 13 as she announced the initiative at the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. “I’ve decided to leave it to a whole bunch of other people to make sure they have a reason to vote.”

Abrams gained national attention after her unsuccessful gubernatorial bid in 2018 against Republican Brian Kemp, who oversaw the election as secretary of state. Her announcement on August 13 puts to rest speculation among Democrats about if she would join the crowded presidential field.

Despite this, Abrams has not closed the door to potentially serving as vice president. She has privately met with several candidates and is considered a top pick for the vice presidential spot on the ticket, according to The New York Times.

Abrams told the newspaper in a new interview that she feels the best contribution she can make in the primary is to “make sure our nominee is coming into an environment where there’s strong voter protections in place.”

Although she seriously considered running for president, Abrams said she does not believe in running for office simply because it is available. “I need to know that it’s the best choice and it’s the best role for me to play,” Abrams said. “And I’ve been pleased with the direction of the field.”

When asked if she would be open to being selected as a vice president, Abrams told The New York Times, “I would be honored to be considered by any nominee.”

When the future Democratic nominee decides their running mate, Abrams wants to make sure they are doing so “knowing that we are in a country where we have built the infrastructure in those battleground states. And that I’ve done my part.”

Since she is open to running for vice president with any candidate, Abrams said that she does not plan to endorse any candidate during the primaries. Abrams and former Vice President Joe Biden, who announced his third presidential run in April, have fueled rumors that he will choose her as his running mate. The pair met in Washington, DC after Biden announced his candidacy.

Abrams noted that her focus right now is fighting voter suppression, not running for the Senate or the White House.

“But my responsibility is to focus on the primary. And that means using the primary as an opportunity to build the apparatus to fight voter suppression,” Abrams said. “Because in the end, no matter where I fit, no matter which [one] of our nominees win, if we haven’t fought this scourge, if we haven’t pushed back against Moscow Mitch and his determination to block any legislation that would cure our voting machines, then we are in a world of trouble.”

Abrams did not respond to The North Star’s request for additional comment.

In May, Abrams announced that she would not challenge US Senator David Perdue (R-Ga.) for his Senate seat.

“I am so grateful for all of the support and encouragement I have received from fellow Georgians, to leaders of Congress and beyond,” she said in a video shared on social media at the time.

“However, the fights to be waged required a deep commitment to the job, and I do not see the US Senate as the best role for me in this battle for our nation’s future.”

Abrams reiterated that belief in her interview with The New York Times, stating she is “not so arrogant” as to believe that she was the only Democrat who could win a Senate seat in Georgia.

“My decision not to run for the Senate was because I do not want to serve in the Senate. I think that there are people who are running who are the right people for that job,” she said. “And I’m going to do my best to ensure that they can become the senator from Georgia.”

About the Author

Nicole Rojas is a breaking news writer for The North Star. She has published in various venues, including Newsweek, GlobalPost, IHS Jane’s Defence Weekly, and the Long Island Post. Nicole graduated from Boston University in 2012 with a degree in print journalism. She is an avid world traveler who recently explored Asia and Australia.