In order for a candidate to advance in a general election system, Georgia requires that a candidate must earn more than 50 percent of votes. If no candidate wins 50 percent of the votes, then the two candidates with the most votes proceed to a runoff election, which ensures that a candidate will win the majority votes. For the first time in history, Georgia votes for two liberal candidates. Raphael Warnock (first Black man elected in the Senate from Georgia) defeats Kelly Loeffler, and Jon Ossoff (first Jewish man elected to the Senate from Georgia) defeats David Perdue in the runoff results. Georgia shifting from white moderates to two Democratic candidates is changing demographics and reshaping the political dynamics of this southern state.
Trump's actions may have had a massive influence on Georgia's decision to turn blue. Trump failed to motivate people to vote and, in his appearances and messages, he dwelled on his grievances about the presidential election, which he lost. However, this strategy backfired for Trump, and instead, people in Georgia chose to vote for the Democratic candidates. Through her campaign, Stacy Abrams was successful, and helped influence young and neglected Georgians to register to vote, and ensured the people in Georgia that their vote did matter and that they would make a difference.
After seeing Trump lose and then contest the election, people realized that they could stand up for integrity of elections and end voter suppression in Georgia. Biden's victory allowed Democrats, specifically Black voters, to gain confidence that they could win important and competitive races. Since November, the turnout of Black voters have increased, and there has been a major shift "from the drop-off that is typical in runoff races".
1 comment:
I'm glad to see political change within the south through Georgia going blue. I think that breaking white/republican strongholds is an important step towards unity within the nation. It stops the idea of voting blocks for one party. I also like voting population is become more diverse which will eventually remove of largely white candidates.
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