In the months leading up to the 2024 U.S. election, Donald Trump’s steady lead over Kamala Harris in Georgia seemed to predict his victory in the state. However, despite the polls, the result still came as a surprise to many, particularly in the state’s capital, Atlanta, where vibrant Democratic support was evident and the expectation for Harris, the first female vice president, was palpable.
Trump’s Gains and the Changing Political Landscape
Trump’s consistent but narrow lead over Harris was evident from August onwards, but this outcome felt unexpected in Georgia’s urban centers, especially Atlanta, a Democratic stronghold. The city, along with its affluent suburbs, was filled with “Harris, obviously” signs, and a visit from Harris just before the election energized her supporters, anticipating a win for her ticket. However, Trump’s gains in Georgia were notable. Compared to 2020, Trump made significant inroads with several key demographics, including black women and college-educated voters—two groups that have traditionally leaned Democratic. Additionally, Trump’s base showed small but crucial increases in voter turnout, driven by a shift in Republican strategy. In 2020, Trump’s campaign discouraged mail-in voting, while in 2024, it strongly encouraged early voting, contributing to a record 4 million early ballots cast in Georgia. This change in tactics played a role in Trump’s success, although it was initially thought that early voting would benefit Harris.
Troubled Electoral History Of Georgia
The 2024 election in Georgia was not without its challenges. The state had already been at the center of Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 results, including his infamous phone call to Georgia’s Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, where he demanded the “find” of the votes necessary to secure a Trump win. This led to threats against Raffensperger’s life. The 2024 election saw similar tensions, with election officials receiving panic buttons and armed security for protection, and polling stations being evacuated due to hoax bomb threats, allegedly originating from Russia. Despite these disturbances, the election itself proceeded smoothly, and the result was not as close as many had anticipated.
Georgia’s Complex Political Evolution
Georgia’s political role has long been significant, from being the heart of the Civil Rights Movement to a key battleground state in modern U.S. elections. After decades of Democratic control, Georgia shifted toward the Republican Party in the 1960s due to opposition to the Voting Rights Act and the rise of the “Southern Strategy.” This strategy, used by Richard Nixon, sought to appeal to white voters by emphasizing racial divisions. However, in the last two decades, Georgia’s political landscape has started to shift back toward the Democrats, driven by the state’s growing and diversifying population, especially in urban areas like Atlanta. The 2020 census revealed significant demographic changes, with ethnic minorities, particularly African Americans and Latinos, making up nearly 40% of the population.
Despite these demographic shifts, Georgia still faces significant racial divides, with urban areas becoming more diverse while rural regions remain predominantly white. This divide is compounded by gerrymandering, which has reduced electoral competitiveness and diluted the power of minority votes. A 2023 federal court ruling noted that Georgia’s political system does not offer equal opportunities for all voters, citing the state’s history of racial inequality. In response to claims of widespread voter fraud in 2020, Georgia’s Republican legislature passed Senate Bill 202, a set of voting restrictions widely criticized for disproportionately impacting minority voters. Some viewed it as a modern form of disenfranchisement, reminiscent of the segregation-era laws known as “Jim Crow.”
Read More: US Election Results: How Donald Trump Won The 2024 US Presidential Election
