Voting rights leaders like Stacey Abrams, Nsé Ufot, LaTosha Brown and many others played a pivotal role in securing at least one historic Democratic win in the Georgia runoff elections for both Senate seats, The New York Times reported. 

The Rev. Raphael Warnock will become the first Black Senator from Georgia to serve in Congress, as Blavity previously reported. And all signs point to another historic win by Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff.

S/O to the soldiers on the ground who labored for a decade to educate, register, and turnout a coalition in Georgia. Climbing over roadblocks erected along the way to suppress the Black vote. Bravo and Brava: @staceyabrams, @MsLaToshaBrown, @cliff_notes
@RepNikema
@BlackVotes
pic.twitter.com/uyNPVIsCTL

— Vincent McCraw (@vdmccraw) January 6, 2021

Georgia has long been one of the bastions of the deeply Republican south, but groups like Fair Fight, New Georgia Project, Higher Heights and others have spent years doing the tough groundwork to mobilize thousands of new voters in the state, which has diversified rapidly in the past few years, according to The New York Times. 

The groups were able to bring out a new generation of Black, Latino and Asian voters in unprecedented numbers in a runoff election that many thought would largely be ignored due to the abnormal timing of it. 

“Once again, the nation is realizing what we have known all along: Georgia is a battleground state thanks to the relentless work done toward investing in and turning out voters of color. Senator-elect Raphael Warnock’s win is an extraordinary moment in Georgia’s and our country’s history," Ufot said in a statement to Blavity. 

Congratulations to our next U.S. Senator, @ReverendWarnock. Last January, I endorsed my dear friend in his quest to serve. Soon, he will walk those august halls & cast votes as a leader with courage, justice and integrity.

God bless you and keep you in your service to us all. pic.twitter.com/lzdDxRA5zv

— Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) January 6, 2021

 
“Through Rev. Warnock, voters of color and progressive white voters brought us this much closer to the bold vision for justice and equality we have been organizing for through the years. We are undoing a history of voter suppression and injustice in Black and brown communities. The changes we are seeing now didn’t happen overnight, and we are not solving our challenges with just one vote," she added.

Ufot said the New Georgia Project Action Fund led efforts to knock on millions of doors, text and engage voters in Georgia. 

On Twitter, Abrams lauded the hundreds of activists who came out during the coronavirus pandemic to energize voters.

With new votes joining the tally, we are on a strong path. But even while we wait for more, let’s celebrate the extraordinary organizers, volunteers, canvassers & tireless groups that haven’t stopped going since Nov. Across our state, we roared. A few miles to go…but well done!

— Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) January 6, 2021

Abrams deflected any praise to other activists and groups, but Twitter was overflowing with love for her after she used her controversial gubernatorial loss in 2018 as motivation to help change Georgia forever.