Georgia is the most important swing state in the rapidly approaching 2024 election. Once a solid Republican stronghold, Georgia has transformed into one of the most fierce battlegrounds in American politics.

According to Merriam-Webster, a swing state is “a U.S. state in which Republican and Democratic candidates have similar levels of support and which is considered to play a key role in the outcome of presidential elections.” With its growing political importance, Georgia’s election outcome could very well determine who becomes the next president.

Georgia’s rapidly changing demographics are one of the reasons for it becoming a purple or even blue state. The state continues to experience significant population growth, particularly with younger and more diverse residents coming to the metro Atlanta area. The expansion of Black, Latino, and Asian communities has caused Georgia’s electorate to become more progressive. These shifts have put Georgia in the spotlight, with both parties fighting to gain its 16 electoral votes.

Georgia’s demographics also serve as a microcosm of the larger political and social divides seen throughout the United States. One of these pronounced divisions is between urban and rural areas. Georgia is home to Atlanta, a large, rapidly growing city with a more progressive electorate, while the state contains vast rural farmland with a more conservative electorate. The state also has a divide in political-party affiliation, ranging from far-right figures like Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene all the way to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who indicted former President Donald Trump. 

The Peach State proving itself to be important in Joe Biden’s victory, with a narrow margin of around 11,000 votes, was the first time a Democrat had won in the state since former President Bill Clinton in 1992. This quick change happened due to grassroots organizations that had been operating for years. For example, former Georgia House of Representatives member Stacey Abrams created the organization Fair Fight, which helped register hundreds of thousands of voters, particularly those from underserved communities. 

Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock, the first Black senator of Georgia, and Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff, the first Jewish senator of Georgia, were able to win both of the available seats in the 2021 Senate runoff elections. This was pivotal because it allowed Georgia to have two Democratic senators who both happened to be minorities, reflecting Georgia’s diverse population. The flipping of these two senate seats allowed for the Democratic Party to take control of the Senate, which helped the Biden administration in passing key pieces of legislation.

Georgia is essential for Democrats seeking reelection because its 16 electoral votes could offset possible losses in other states, such as Arizona and Pennsylvania, where the margins are also expected to be quite tight. For Republicans, winning Georgia is vital for reclaiming their stake in the South that will allow them to reach the necessary 270 electoral votes.

Georgia’s political importance also revolves around the debate over our voting rights. After the 2020 election, Republican Governor Brian Kemp signed a series of new voting laws and restrictions that have sparked widespread criticism. Many believe that these laws make it more difficult for minority and low-income voters to practice their right to participate in elections. These laws limit absentee and early voting and have removed thousands of registered voters from the state’s voting rolls, as well as imposed stricter identification requirements, all under the stated goal of preventing voter fraud. Many critics argue that these measures don’t address voter fraud issues; rather, they disproportionately affect communities of color.

One particular provision of these laws prohibits volunteers from distributing food and water to voters standing in line, and it has gained national attention. This angered many because long wait times often affect areas with more minority voters. This law became so famous that it was featured in Season 12 of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” which gave it more attention and fueled debate over voting rights in Georgia.

Georgia is grappling with the aftermath of the tragic Apalachee High School shooting that left four dead in Barrow County. The shooting reignited debates over gun control, an issue that is deeply divisive both in Georgia and across the nation. Discussions on how to prevent similar tragedies have taken center stage and highlight the polarized views on gun laws between urban and rural voters. Gun control is a key issue of the 2024 election, especially since both campaigns have very different policies that could easily shape voters’ opinions.

Specific instances of tragedies that have occurred in Georgia have become the focus of the campaigns of both candidates. One is the murder of Laken Riley — a nursing student in Athens, Georgia — allegedly by an undocumented immigrant. Riley’s death has fueled Donald Trump’s rhetoric around “migrant crime,” despite the lack of data supporting this as a widespread issue. Another is Amber Thurman, a woman from Atlanta, who tragically died from an infection related to complications from an abortion pill. Due to Georgia’s strict abortion laws, she was not able to receive treatment until her condition became life-threatening. Just a few days later, Vice President Kamala Harris visited Georgia to emphasize how her proposed abortion legislation could prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future. These stories have amplified concerns for the key issues of immigration and reproductive rights, which are both at the forefront of the 2024 election.

As the 2024 election grows closer, Georgia has become the country’s most important swing state. With its evolving electorate, deep partisan divides, and narrow margins, Georgia is not just another battleground state — it is the battleground state. Any WashU student from Georgia should make sure their ballot is cast, because their vote could have a profound impact. The outcome in Georgia could very well decide if Donald Trump or Kamala Harris become our next president, making the Peach State the focal point of the nation’s political future.