Georgia’s primary becomes General Election preview as Biden, Trump focus on each other

Editor’s note: see macon.com and ledger-enquirer.com for updated election results following Tuesday’s primary.

Tuesday’s presidential preference primary in Georgia has become less about voters selecting their preferred candidate in each party and more about previewing a General Election rematch.

With President Joe Biden running as the Democratic nominee and former President Donald Trump standing as the lone remaining candidate in the Republican field, the results are all but final before Georgians go to the polls. The two candidates have already shifted their focus solely on each other following Nikki Haley’s decision to end her campaign last week, leaving Trump alone on the GOP side.

Biden indirectly took aim at Trump during his State of the Union speech last week, not naming him but often referring to his “predecessor.”

Trump, meanwhile, has targeted Biden over immigration and the security of the U.S.-Mexico border, an issue which has thrust Georgia into the center of the election due to the death of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old University of Georgia nursing student. A Venezuelan man who authorities say was in the U.S. illegally has been charged with her murder, according to NPR.

Both Biden and Trump made appearances in Georgia over the weekend, according to multiple media reports. The New York Times reported that Trump, in Rome, spoke heavily about Riley’s death.

Biden, making an appearance in Atlanta, accused Trump of wanting to be a dictator and criticized him for associating with Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican who has become one of the controversial stars of the GOP, according to the Associated Press.

The battle for Georgia in 2020 proved instrumental in Biden’s win. A slim victory in the Peach State by the Democratic president four years ago ultimately prompted Trump to attempt overturn the results in the state. He repeatedly made claims that Biden’s win in the state was fraudulent, and ultimately was indicted over his efforts to change the result.

Georgia’s elected officials weigh in

Some of Georgia’s elected officials at the federal level have audibly thrown their weight behind their party’s candidate in recent days.

Sen. Raphael Warnock (D) has advocated for economic progress made under Biden and says he’s worked with the White House to make an impact.

“Our economy is strong & getting stronger—and lives are getting better for working families in Georgia & across the country,” Warnock said in a post to X, formerly Twitter, Friday.

Republican congressmen representing parts of Macon and Columbus have struck a different tone — hammering Biden on immigration.

Rep. Austin Scott, representing the 8th District, blamed Biden for being directly responsible for issues at the border. Rep. Drew Ferguson, representing the 3rd District, more directly blamed Biden for Riley’s death.

“Biden’s disastrous open border policies led to the death of Laken Riley & continue to bring serious national security implications to every community across GA - & our nation,” Ferguson said in a post to X.

Georgia and two other states have primary elections Tuesday: Mississippi and Washington.