In Georgia, Democrat Stacey Abrams ended her bid Friday to become the state’s next governor—and the first black woman governor in the United States. Abrams’s defeat by Republican Brian Kemp puts an end to one of the most closely watched—and contested—races of the midterms. The race was marred by widespread allegations of voter suppression carried out by Kemp, who was Georgia’s secretary of state until he resigned just after the midterm elections. Abrams has refused to call Kemp the “legitimate” winner during interviews. This is Abrams speaking Friday.

Stacey Abrams: “Pundits and hyper-partisans will hear my words as a rejection of the normal order. You see, I’m supposed to say nice things and accept my fate. They will complain that I should not use this moment to recap what was done wrong or to demand a remedy. You see, as a leader, I should be stoic in my outrage and silent in my rebuke. But stoicism is a luxury, and silence is a weapon for those who would quiet the voices of the people. And I will not concede, because the erosion of our democracy is not right.”

Abrams announced Friday she would be suing the state of Georgia for “gross mismanagement” during the elections. She also launched the initiative Fair Fight Georgia in an effort to continue her fight for election integrity and against voter suppression.