Stacey Abrams told former Vice President Kamala Harris that the American South offers an example of what the United States could look like under authoritarian rule, describing the region as having experienced “soft authoritarianism” since 1776. The remarks matter because they frame long-running disputes over Southern political power, voting rights and civil liberties in strongly critical terms.

The exchange took place during an interview on Thursday, with Harris shown nodding as Abrams spoke. Fox News characterised Abrams, a Georgia Democrat and former gubernatorial candidate, as arguing that Southern residents have long lived with restrictions and political conditions resembling authoritarian governance.