Politics
Georgia’s 2024 Midterms: Key Races and Contenders
Georgia is a focal point in the upcoming U.S. midterm elections, with the state’s competitive history and recent runoffs in Senate races underscoring its importance. President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama both held rallies in Georgia this week as parties deliver final messages before next week’s vote.
Trump has campaigned twice in Dalton, Georgia, over the past two weeks. The state is significant to him because it was the site of his disputed 2020 election loss. Trump refused to concede to Joe Biden and sought a recalculation of Georgia’s presidential results in January, claiming he needed 11,780 votes to win. In 2023, Trump and others were charged with attempting to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia; the case was dismissed after Trump returned to office. During the 2024 campaign, Trump revived claims of “massive fraud” despite audits that upheld Biden’s win. Georgia gave Trump a 2.2‑percentage‑point margin in 2024, the 28th largest margin among the 50 states, leaving the state potentially swing.
Georgia will elect a governor, a senator, and representatives for its 14 congressional districts, as well as lieutenant governor, attorney general, and secretary of state. Of the 14 congressional seats, nine are Republican and five are Democratic.
Senate race: Incumbent Democrat Jon Ossoff leads Republican Mike Collins 52.6% to 42.4% in MS NOW polling averages. Ossoff, who won his seat in 2021 after a runoff against Republican David Perdue, campaigns on affordability, healthcare, and government accountability. He has accused Trump and allies of corruption. Collins, who won the Republican nomination in a runoff, supports Trump’s agenda, immigration enforcement, and smaller government. Trump has promised to reward states that vote for him and warned that reelecting Ossoff could be a different story.
Governor race: NBC polling suggests a toss‑up between Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms and Republican Rick Jackson. Bottoms, former Atlanta mayor, focuses on affordability, healthcare access, education funding, and environmental regulation, and would become the first black woman governor if elected. Jackson, a 72‑year‑old billionaire, has criticized Bottoms for crime management during her mayoralty.
As of now, 40 million ballots have been cast in the current election cycle, according to the University of Florida’s election lab, compared with 45.9 million early voters in the 2022 midterms.