Georgia's political landscape has seen significant shifts over the years, with the state playing a crucial role in presidential elections. In 2016, Donald Trump secured a victory in Georgia with a comfortable margin of approximately 5%. However, the 2020 election saw a dramatic turnaround as Joe Biden emerged victorious by a narrow margin of just 0.2%, marking the first time Georgia had chosen a Democrat since 1992.
Historically, Georgia had a strong Democratic leaning, consistently voting for Democratic candidates in presidential elections until 1960. The dynamics began to change with the rise of the civil rights movement, leading Republicans to implement their 'Southern strategy' to attract disaffected Democrats. Since 1964, Georgia has favored Republican candidates in 10 presidential elections, while Democrats have won in four instances, with one Independent candidate also securing a victory.
As the 2020 election approached, Georgia emerged as a battleground state, labeled a 'toss-up' due to its potential to sway the outcome of the election. The state's significance is underscored by its Electoral College votes, with the winner needing to secure at least 270 votes. Notably, Georgia has a track record of aligning with the winning candidate, voting in line with the national outcome 66.7% of the time between 2000 and 2020, according to Ballotpedia.
