The 2024 presidential election is heating up in Georgia, a state that has historically been a Republican stronghold but has become increasingly competitive in recent years. Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are locked in a tight race for the Peach State, with polls showing them “neck and neck.”
Experts believe Trump’s rhetoric could swing the state one way or another. In the 2020 election, Georgia was considered reliably Republican, but Trump lost the state by a narrow margin. He also lost both Senate races in Georgia, which ultimately decided control of the Senate.
“They’re neck and neck in Georgia,” Tevi Troy, a presidential historian and former deputy secretary of Health and Human Services in the George W. Bush administration, told Fox News Digital. “In 2020, we were still operating under the assumption that Georgia was Republican territory as it had been pretty reliable for a long time, and then not only did Trump lose, but then you had those two Senate losses that came right after the election in January that determined the control in the Senate.”
Georgia’s electorate is a mix of traditional rural voters who have historically supported Republicans and a newer demographic of wealthier, educated voters who often lean Democrat, particularly in the Atlanta suburbs. Black voters make up a significant portion of the electorate, and they have traditionally leaned heavily Democrat. Recent indications suggest that Trump is performing somewhat better among Black voters, especially Black men, which could impact the overall voting dynamics if he can reduce the Democrat dominance in this group.
Georgia-based radio host Erick Erickson, a former councilmember in Macon, told Fox News Digital, “Over 30,000 people refused to vote for Trump in Georgia in 2020, and he lost by about 12,000 votes.” “All he’s doing is reminding everyone why they don’t like him,” Erickson said. “And he has no Georgia ground game and will have to rely on Kemp. It’s going to hurt him.”
Old tensions resurfaced between Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, a Republican, and Trump during Trump’s rally in Atlanta over the weekend. Trump criticized Kemp for refusing to overturn the 2020 election results. The governor responded by suggesting that Trump should focus on winning in November and refrain from “petty personal insults, attacking fellow Republicans or dwelling on the past.”
Harris also headlined a rally in Atlanta last week, speaking in front of roughly 10,000 attendees. The rally featured a performance by hip-hop star Megan Thee Stallion. She was mocked by some on social media for seemingly debuting a southern accent while speaking to supporters. While some dismissed the criticism as frivolous, others speculated that it could be a strategic move to appeal to voters in the South.
The 2024 election in Georgia is likely to be a close race, with both Trump and Harris working hard to win over voters. The outcome of the race could have significant implications for the national election and the future of the Republican and Democratic parties.
