Barack Obama endorses Stacey Abrams for Governor of Ga.

Published August 1, 2018 6:09 PM EDT

Former President Barack Obama has endorsed Stacey Abrams for governor of Georgia. 

Obama announced his endorsement on Wednesday, releasing the following statement:

The race between Republican Brian Kemp, a hard-line white conservative, and Abrams, a self-declared progressive black woman, is set to be among the most closely watched of the November midterms.