Georgia Secretary of State sets 2024 presidential primary date, officials react

GEORGIA — Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger set the first of the state’s presidential primaries for right after Super Tuesday. Depending on what happens across 2023 and into 2024, that could be important, or irrelevant, for the coming presidential race.

Georgia Democrats wanted it moved up much earlier, to one of the first presidential primaries. Instead, Raffensperger set the date later in the year for March 12, 2024.

Raffensperger made the announcement Thursday, telling Channel 2′s Richard Elliot in an exclusive one-on-one that it was a date that he thought “made the most sense.”

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

“We looked at all the options that we had, and I think by virtually standing alone, it really means we’re the sole focus for that week,” Raffensperger said.

Republican strategist Cody Hall said the date means Georgia could become irrelevant if one candidate, such as former President Donald Trump, comes out of Super Tuesday with a big lead in delegates.

“There’s a risk-reward balance you have to make when picking these primary dates,” Hall said.

Hall says Trump isn’t polling well in Georgia, but if for some reason he comes out close to other candidates, the state could spell disaster for him.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Austell police search for couple who abandoned baby at hospital, then vanish
• 350 pounds of pot found in DeKalb County home
• South Atlanta High School social worker saves the prom

“If he comes out of Super Tuesday, and it’s not already apparent who our nominee is going to be, former President Trump would hope for just about any other state to be next other than Georgia,” Hall continued.

Another political strategist said the choice of primary date will mean more for Republicans than their Democrat opponents.

“This has bigger ramifications for Republicans than Democrats,” veteran political strategist Fred Hicks said.

Going further, Hicks said that if Trump doesn’t come out of Super Tuesday the clear favorite, the Georgia primary could turn into his nightmare scenario.

“If Donald Trump is not able to tie up the Republican nomination, then his worst case scenario, worst nightmare, becomes reality,” Hicks said. “That is his fate comes down to Georgia.”

Both political strategists say Democrats appear to be behind President Joe Biden as their 2024 nominee, but also pointed out that without Trump as the GOP pick, Biden could have a much rockier road back to the White House.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

OTHER NEWS:

Congress weighs how to regulate the quickly-advancing AI industry

©2022 Cox Media Group