Media icon Oprah Winfrey will hit the campaign trail this week for Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.
Winfrey formally endorsed Abrams today and plans to knock on doors to encourage eligible voters to support the Democrat who, if elected, will become the first African-American female governor in U.S. history.
She also plans to speak with her at the town hall events.
“Oprah Winfrey has inspired so many of us through the years with her unparalleled ability to form real connections and strengthen the bonds of family and community,” Abrams said in a statement Wednesday. “I am honored to have Oprah join me for uplifting and honest conversations with voters about the clear choice before us in this election and the boundless potential of Georgians.”
It’s a rare political endorsement for Winfrey, who backed former President Barack Obama during the primaries in 2008 and lent her support to Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election.
On Tuesday, she appeared in a video with NBC News’ Maria Shiver to urge people to vote, saying she’s a political independent before adding, “people think I’m a Democrat.”
Winfrey has been serving as a contributor for 60 Minutes, but is temporarily halting that relationship due to her political activity.
“Oprah Winfrey and CBS News have agreed that she will step away from her contributor role at 60 Minutes during this campaign season, in keeping with CBS News standards,” said a CBS News spokesperson today.
The last time Winfrey endorsed and campaigned for a candidate was in 2006 when she supported then-Sen. Barack Obama’s candidacy for president.
She fully endorsed Obama in 2007 and made her first appearance within the campaign later that year. While she endorsed Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential election, she did not campaign for Clinton.
Abrams has garnered a handful of high-profile supporters, including Obama, former Vice President Joe Biden, Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker, and comedian Will Ferrell.
President Trump and Vice President Pence, meanwhile, have also announced visits to support Abrams’ Republican challenger, Brian Kemp, in the remaining days of the campaign.
Polls in the race have the contest dead even.