Former United States President Donald Trump cruises to victory in the Georgia GOP primary, setting up a rematch with President Joe Biden as the Democrat clinches his party's nomination.
The Republican businessman's overwhelming victory in the Georgia primary did not come as a surprise as he was not expected to face any serious competition in the Peach State. The GOP primary in the state awards 59 delegates.
Donald Trump Claims Victory in Georgia Primary
Trump's popularity has become even more one-sided after former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley dropped out of the GOP presidential nomination race last week. However, the former UN ambassador can still get votes in the Republican nominating contests and therefore, delegates.
This situation has raised questions about whether or not members of the GOP would still cast a ballot for Haley as a protest against Trump. The former president's primary victory comes as Georgia is among a handful of states that are expected to play a critical role in determining the presidency in the upcoming November general election, according to The Hill.
On top of the Georgia primaries, Mississippi and Washington will also be holding their respective races on Tuesday. On the other hand, Hawaii will hold its Republican caucuses on that day. Democrats who are abroad and in the Northern Mariana territory will vote on Tuesday as well.
Over the weekend, Biden and Trump both visited Georgia where they held dueling rallies. The Democratic president met with roughly 500 supporters at the Pullman Yards hall on Atlanta's east side in DeKalb County. This came as the Republican businessman went to the Forum River Center, which is an arena in Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene's ruby-red district.
Since the November 2020 elections, the state of Georgia is estimated to have added roughly 375,000 to its population. The number is emblematic of the growth in the American South in exchange for the Rust Belt and California as U.S. population growth overall close to zero.
Crucial State for the 2024 Presidential Election
As of today, roughly 8 million people are registered to vote, which is nearly 10% more than the number that was seen in October 2020. However, this figure is expected to drop as the Georgia secretary of state's office eliminates duplicates and the registrations of people who have moved or have died, said The Guardian.
While Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are expected to support Biden, there are no Senate races on the ballot to drive state-level organizing. The president's campaign will also be relying on its own election apparatus and that of grassroots organizations.
Despite Biden and Trump viewing Georgia as a crucial state for the 2024 presidential elections, it also highlights some of the obstacles that both candidates face coming into the November election.
For the Republican businessman, these are his criminal indictments, including one where he faces charges within the state of Georgia itself, as well as a shrinking Republican tent. On the other hand, Biden is seeing an enthusiasm gap in his campaign among non-white voters and concerns over his handling of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, according to NPR.
