Democrat Sarah Riggs Amico filed paperwork Monday to formally explore a possible run for U.S. Senate against first-term Republican David Perdue, allowing her to start to raising cash for what will be a costly race.
The logistics executive, who ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 2018, launched her exploratory committee as she lines up strategists and makes other behind-the-scenes move to prepare for her bid.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported she's in talks with pollster Cornell Belcher and the Perkins Coie law firm to advise her potential campaign. She is also likely to hire several former Stacey Abrams aides.
Democrats consider Georgia a must-win to flip control of the U.S. Senate, but the field has been slow to develop. Abrams and other high-profile Democrats have passed on a run, leaving only two candidates so far in the race: Former Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson and Clarkston Mayor Ted Terry.
Other potential contenders include former 6th District candidate Jon Ossoff and Matt Lieberman, an educator who is the son of ex-U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman.
Tomlinson's campaign is working with well-known Democratic strategist Joe Trippi, and has hired a team of advisers including Edana Walker, a former Abrams finance director. But her first round of fundraising – she collected about $520,000 over three months – left an opening for rivals to jump in.
Perdue is preparing, too, for a re-election battle that will bring a deluge of money and attention to Georgia, which is expected to be a battleground state for President Donald Trump's quest for a second term.
While Abrams has said she’ll stay out of the race, Amico would likely use her 2018 strategy as a blueprint if she runs. That means a focus on healthcare and voting rights – and a concerted effort to appeal to minorities and first-time voters.
She did not immediately comment on Monday, but previously told the AJC that her potential campaign would focus on putting Georgians’ needs first “instead of hiding behind partisan politics and endless excuses.”
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