Democrat Stacey Abrams says she will file a federal lawsuit to challenge the “gross mismanagement” of Georgia elections.
Abrams made the comments in a Friday speech, shortly after she said she can’t win the race, effectively ending her challenge to Republican Brian Kemp.
READ MORE: Why Stacey Abrams refuses to concede the Georgia governor’s race to Brian Kemp
She said: “In the coming days, we will be filing a major federal lawsuit against the state of Georgia for the gross mismanagement of this election and to protect future elections.”
WATCH: Abrams says she believes there was deliberate disenfranchisement for years in Georgia
![Click to play video: 'Abrams says she believes there was deliberate disenfranchisement for years in Georgia'](https://i2.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/795/307/181118_cbs_sotu_stacey_abrams_848x480_1374158403944.jpg?w=1040&quality=70&strip=all)
Kemp is Georgia’s former secretary of state. Abrams and voting rights activists have argued for months that Kemp mismanaged the elections system in his post.
He was backed by President Donald Trump.
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WATCH: Brian Kemp ‘has purged an unprecedented number of voters,’ says Abrams campaign
![Click to play video: 'Brian Kemp ‘has purged an unprecedented number of voters’: Stacey Abrams campaign'](https://i0.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/432/51/2018-11-09T17-23-58.558Z--1280x720.jpg?w=1040&quality=70&strip=all)
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.
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.
WATCH: Stacey Abrams lawyers says they will litigate until every person’s vote has been counted in Georgia
![Click to play video: 'Stacey Abrams lawyers says they will litigate until every person’s vote has been counted in Georgia'](https://i0.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/523/943/2018-11-08T17-14-13.429Z--159.616_848x480_1366257731643.jpg?w=1040&quality=70&strip=all)
Abrams had hoped to become the first black governor of the Deep South state and the first black female governor of any state.
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