ATLANTA — Stacey Abrams, the Democratic nominee for governor, tested positive for COVID-19 a day after she delivered a major economic policy speech at a downtown Atlanta brewery. She has mild symptoms and expects to travel the state to "meet Georgians as soon as possible," her campaign said.
Abrams spokesman Michael Holloman said she tested positive for the coronavirus early Wednesday, hours after the candidate gave a Tuesday speech before some of her closest allies at Atlantucky Brewing. He said she tested negative for the respiratory illness before the Tuesday event.
Many of the attendees at the event, which Abrams used to highlight an array of new policy proposals, wore masks, though Abrams spoke from a podium without a face covering. Her campaign asks visitors to its Decatur headquarters to wear masks and complete a rapid test before entering the building.
Abrams, who is twice vaccinated and boosted, is now isolating at home. It's not immediately clear how many of her upcoming events will be canceled, including a "Pod Save America" podcast taping planned for Saturday at the Cobb Energy Centre.
The Democrat is in the middle of a heated rematch against Gov. Brian Kemp, who narrowly defeated her in 2018. The Republican has had his own brushes with the illness. He was forced to self-quarantine twice after he was exposed to the disease on the campaign trail in October 2020 and March 2021.
Other Georgia politicians have had high-profile bouts with coronavirus. Republican state Sen. Bruce Thompson, now the party's nominee for labor commissioner, faced criticism after he tested positive for the disease in the first weeks of the pandemic and traveled to his vacation home in Florida.
And both of Georgia's Republican U.S. senators were forced to nix campaign events before Jan. 5, 2021 runoffs after they received positive tests.
Then-U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler self-isolated for several days in late November 2020, while then-U.S. Sen. David Perdue canceled in-person events in the final days of the race after he contracted the disease.
Here's the full Abrams campaign statement from spokesman Michael Holloman:
"This morning, Stacey Abrams tested positive for COVID-19 during routine testing. She tests daily and tested negative via PCR Monday and negative via rapid test yesterday before her 'Georgia Thrives' economic speech. She is fully vaccinated and boosted and experiencing mild symptoms. Consistent with CDC guidelines, she will isolate at home and looks forward to traveling across the state to meet Georgians as soon as possible."
