US election: Trump wins Georgia in second swing state result

Republican candidate, Donald Trump has won the key battleground state of Georgia, US media projected early Wednesday, flipping a state that voted Democratic in 2020 and dealing a major blow to his rival Kamala Harris.

The win represents a significant boost for Republicans, who were eager to re-establish Georgia’s reputation as a conservative stronghold following Joe Biden’s breakthrough victory in 2020. That year, Democrats went on to win both Senate seats in the state through runoff elections, marking a historic moment.

At the time the race was called, Trump was leading by 125,000 votes. Almost all advance votes in Georgia had been reported. His lead was larger than what Harris could be expected to make up from the remaining votes in Democratic strongholds. Trump was slightly ahead of his 2020 performance in enough counties to erase the deficit of less than 12,000 votes by which he lost Georgia four years ago.

The outcome also reflects a shift from four years ago when Trump, disputing his loss in Georgia, urged Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find” enough votes for him to secure the state. This plea led to a criminal racketeering indictment in Fulton County. That case remains active.

This victory positions the former President closer to reclaiming the presidency, contingent on wins in other pivotal states where Biden was victorious in 2020. Biden’s prior win in Georgia had made him the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry the state since Bill Clinton in 1992, while Trump had taken it in 2016.

Trump’s campaign worked strategically to combat Democratic advances in the metro Atlanta area while amplifying turnout in smaller, rural regions, with dedicated support from Republican grassroots leaders and officials. This momentum was bolstered by six visits Trump made to Georgia this year, with rallies in key cities like Rome, Savannah, and Atlanta.

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