A Washington Free Beacon analysis found that Abrams had publicly stated she won the gubernatorial election a dozen times within six months of losing. Abrams, a former state representative, told the New York Times "I won" and argued on MSNBC that the election was "stolen" by Georgia Republicans. Abrams's plea to forget the past came the day after former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton renewed a public feud with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), her top primary challenger in 2016.