Abrams endorses Nguyen in Democratic Georgia secretary of state runoff

Nguyen faces Dawkins-Haigler on June 21
Bee Nguyen, running for Secretary of State of Georgia, talks to supporters before the start of a Stacey Abrams press conference at Israel Baptist Church in Atlanta Tuesday, May 23, 2022. (Steve Schaefer / steve.schaefer@ajc.com)

Credit: Steve Schaefer

Credit: Steve Schaefer

Bee Nguyen, running for Secretary of State of Georgia, talks to supporters before the start of a Stacey Abrams press conference at Israel Baptist Church in Atlanta Tuesday, May 23, 2022. (Steve Schaefer / steve.schaefer@ajc.com)

Democrat Bee Nguyen landed an endorsement Thursday from Stacey Abrams in the runoff for Georgia secretary of state, a boost to her campaign against fellow Democrat Dee Dawkins-Haigler.

Abrams, the Democratic nominee for Georgia governor, made her pick in the runoff after Nguyen received the most votes in a five-candidate primary Tuesday but failed to exceed the 50% threshold needed to win outright.

Nguyen represents the same district in the Georgia House that Abrams previously held until her 2018 run for governor.

“When Bee was elected to my former House seat, I knew my constituents would be well represented. Now, her record of advocacy and public service for Georgia voters speaks for itself,” Abrams said.

Nguyen faces Dawkins-Haigler, a former state representative from DeKalb County who left her seat for an unsuccessful run for state Senate in 2016. Dawkins-Haigler’s departure from the state House created a vacancy filled by Vernon Jones, who later switched parties and is now in a Republican runoff for Congress.

The winner of the Democratic runoff on June 21 will face Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who won his four-candidate primary Tuesday and avoided a runoff.