Bradley Graham, the co-owner of Politics and Prose bookstore in Washington, D.C., has resigned as president of the American Booksellers Association board, and is stepping down from the board as well.
In a letter to booksellers, the 12 remaining board members announced that Graham had informed them over the weekend that he was stepping down, noting that Graham’s explanation to them was that he wanted to “turn [his] full attention to achieving productive contract negotiations” with the union that his employees have recently formed “and to prioritize other upcoming store projects.”
Pursuant to the ABA bylaws, the letter informed booksellers, Christine Onorati, the owner of WORD Bookstores in Brooklyn and Jersey City, N.J., one of the board’s two vice presidents, will step up to replace Graham as board president. Kelly Estep, the co-owner of Carmichael’s Bookstore in Louisville, Ky., will continue in her role as v-p and secretary.
Graham, who owns Politics and Prose with his wife, Lissa Muscatine, has served on the board of the ABA for the past five years. He was elected president in May 2021.