The Latest: Stacey Abrams says Brian Kemp has won

ATLANTA (AP/WDEF) – The Latest on the Georgia governor’s race (all times local):

I humbly ask for citizens of our great state to stand with me in the days ahead. Together, we will realize the opportunities and tackle the challenges to come. We will be a state that puts hardworking Georgians – no matter their zip code or political preference – first! (3 of 3)

— Brian Kemp (@BrianKempGA) November 16, 2018

“I acknowledge that former Secretary of State Brian Kemp will be certified as the victor in the 2018 gubernatorial election.  But to watch an elected official who claims to represent the state baldly pin his hopes for election on the suppression of the peoples’ democratic right to vote, has been truly appalling. So let’s be clear. This is not a speech of concession.” — Stacey Abrams

5:10 p.m.

Democrat Stacey Abrams says she can’t win the Georgia governor’s race, effectively ending her challenge to Republican Brian Kemp.

Her speech Friday effectively puts a stop to the contest. The final result had been in doubt for 10 days after the election.

Abrams made her announcement just after 5 p.m. That was the earliest state officials could certify the results after a court-ordered review of absentee, provisional and other uncounted ballots. Abrams’ campaign had contended there were potentially enough uncounted votes to force a runoff.

Abrams had hoped to become the first black governor of the Deep South state and the first black female governor of any state.

Kemp is Georgia’s former secretary of state. He was backed by President Donald Trump.

Abrams stressed as she spoke: “This is not a speech of concession.”

A spokesman for the Kemp campaign didn’t answer his phone and didn’t immediately respond to a text message seeking comment after Abrams’ speech.

2:30 p.m.

Georgia authorities say a senator arrested at a state Capitol demonstration over uncounted election ballots was charged with obstruction because she helped create “a human wall” that hindered police.

The Georgia Department of Public Safety on Friday released the report Capitol police filed after the Tuesday arrests of Sen. Nikema Williams and 14 demonstrators. Williams and the others were jailed on misdemeanor charges of disrupting the General Assembly after dozens packed the Capitol rotunda and began chanting: “Count every vote!”

Williams was the only person charged with obstruction. The police report says she locked arms with two demonstrators and “physically resisted commands to unlock herself.”

Williams has denied wrongdoing. She did not immediately return an email message seeking comment Friday. No one answered the phone at her Senate office.

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12:30 p.m.

The Georgia secretary of state’s office says county election officials are making progress on steps required to comply with federal judges’ orders regarding absentee and provisional ballots.

The office said in a news release that 27 counties had to conduct a second review of provisional ballots cast because would-be voters didn’t appear on the voter rolls. By midday Friday, more than half of those counties had completed their review.

Additionally, all counties were required to count absentee ballots that had previously been rejected because of a missing or inaccurate date of birth. Three-quarters of all counties had completed that count.

The secretary of state’s office has instructed counties to complete the reviews by 5 p.m. Friday.

The release says once state election officials confirm that counties have complied with the judges’ orders, they will review the documentation prior to certification.

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The letter:

“The Secretary of State’s office has been working closely with counties to ensure compliance with several judicial orders and existing statutes. Throughout this process, we have issued detailed guidance to county officials regarding compliance with these orders and, where necessary, recertification of their results.
“To comply with U.S. District Judge Totenberg’s order, twenty-seven counties were required to conduct a second review of provisional ballots rejected for code ‘PR,’ meaning that individuals did not appear on the voter rolls when they cast provisional ballots. Right now, over half of those counties have completed this review. To comply with orders by U.S. District Judges Jones and May, all counties were required to count absentee by mail ballots where those ballots were previously rejected solely due to missing or inaccurate dates of birth. At this stage, three-quarters of all counties have completed this review. We have directed counties to complete this review by 5 PM today.
“After we confirm that counties have complied with the judges’ orders and sent to the Secretary of State all required documentation, we will commence the regular process of reviewing this documentation in a manner that ensures accuracy and compliance prior to state certification.”

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The Abrams for Governor campaign released an ad today on their contention that voters faced lots of problems at the polls and encouraging them to report their stories.

They want people to call their voter protection hotline at 1-888-730-5816.

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6 a.m.

Democrat Stacey Abrams is considering an unprecedented legal challenge in the unresolved Georgia governor’s race that could leave the state’s Supreme Court deciding whether to force another round of voting.

Her longshot strategy is being discussed as Georgia elections officials appear to be on the cusp of certifying Republican Brian Kemp as the winner of a bitterly fought campaign.

Top Abrams advisers outlined her prospective case to The Associated Press. They stressed the Democratic candidate hasn’t finalized a decision about whether to proceed once state officials certify Kemp as the victor. That could happen as early as Friday evening.

The Abrams campaign has nearly three dozen lawyers working on the potential case and considering other legal options.

Unofficial returns show Kemp with 50.2 percent of more than 3.9 million votes.

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