As the second of the two biggest political party events wraps up this evening in Chicago with Vice President Kamala Harris accepting the Democratic presidential nomination, all eyes in Georgia are turning to the grand finale — the Nov. 5 election.

“We are all energized because we know we are bringing back hope for our future,” political consultant Pat Pullar, one of 108 Georgia delegates at this week’s Democratic National Convention, told State Affairs. “We will register, educate and mobilize our voters because we must do the work to get the next POTUS — Kamala Harris.”

At the Republican National Convention last month in Milwaukee, Georgia’s delegates and Gov. Brian Kemp walked away inspired and ready to push toward November. 

“The conventions portrayed unified bases for both parties, more so than anytime in recent memory,” Georgia Republican strategist Brian Robinson told State Affairs. “Both parties telegraphed that they think working class voters will play a huge role in picking the winner and we saw overt appeals to that group.”

Both parties highlighted issues where they have polling advantage, Robinson added. Republicans talked about the cost of living and the border crisis while Democrats talked about abortion rights, he said.

At the RNC, Georgia delegates pledged 59 votes for Donald Trump, and the city of Sandy Springs, Georgia, sent eight police officers and a firefighter to the Republican convention to ensure tighter security in the wake of the earlier assassination attempt on Trump.

But it was this week’s convention that saw heightened participation from Georgians, including a prime-time appearance by former Lt. Gov. Geoff  Duncan, who told thousands of Democratic convention delegates that Trump is “a threat to democracy.”  

Several prominent Georgians also gave speeches at this week’s convention, such as U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock and attorney and politician Jason Carter, who honored his grandfather Jimmy Carter, an honorary Georgia delegate to the convention. Grammy-winning Atlanta rapper Lil Jon made a surprise appearance, performing his hit song “Turn Down for What,” which served as the segue to Georgia’s Tuesday roll call where 108 delegates pledged their votes to Harris and her running mate, Gov. Tim Walz.

Georgia Congresswoman Lucy McBath is slated to speak tonight ahead of Harris’ 9:45 acceptance speech.

As a swing state, Georgia is expected to have a major influence on the outcome of the 2024 presidential election, as it did in 2020 when it helped put President Joe Biden in the White House. Trump later sought help to overturn the 2020 election results by asking Republican state officials to “find” him over 11,000 more votes. Georgia rebuffed Trump’s request. He is facing election interference charges in Georgia.

In addition to picking a president in November, Georgians will choose whom they send to Congress and the state capitol as well as decide down-ballot races such as school board and county commission. 

While all 236 seats in the Georgia General Assembly are up for re-election this year,  many incumbents will be returning to their jobs due to uncontested races.

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Weekend Read: Mesha Mainor expected to face uphill battle to retain seat — even against little-known competitors

Incumbents, young newcomers do well in primary election

New middle Georgia House district up for grabs due to influential incumbent’s departure

Have questions, comments or tips? Contact Tammy Joyner on X @lvjoyner or at [email protected].