Several months ago, Georgia appeared to be firmly in Donald Trump’s grasp. However, with President Joe Biden withdrawing from the election and Vice President Kamala Harris stepping in, the political landscape in Georgia has shifted. In one of her initial speeches after entering the race, Harris emphasized the importance of Georgia, stating, “The path to the White House runs right through this state. You all helped us win in 2020, and we’re going to do it again in 2024.”
Georgia has historically never elected a female Governor or a female U.S. Senator, raising questions about the potential impact on the allocation of its 16 electoral votes in this election cycle.
Mary Louise Kelly, host of “Consider This,” engaged with three long-time Georgia residents in a discussion about the state’s political direction. The conversation was held at a cafe in Atlanta and included Latrice Cushenberry, Eustacia McCloud Carter, and Donna Smith Aranson, who are all backing Kamala Harris for president. These women, representing diverse backgrounds, religions, and races, range in age from their 50s to their 70s.
Cushenberry supports Harris due to shared values and her ability to see herself and her family reflected in the candidate. She noted, “She is someone that I have seen repeatedly throughout my lifetime in my grandmother, my mother, my aunts – a capable, competent African American person who can get the job done with empathy and compassion.”
For Aranson, a native of Atlanta with experience in various political cycles, the decision to support Harris was driven by a desire for change. “When Kamala stepped up, it was like a lightning bolt,” she remarked. “I listened to President Biden as he stepped back and turned the reins over to Kamala. And I said, ‘This is it. This has got to be it.'”
Carter initially struggled with Biden’s decision to step down, as she was ready to support him for another term. “I wasn’t kumbaya and jumping up and screaming when Joe Biden stepped down because I was all in for Joe Biden… It wasn’t that I wasn’t going to ever vote for Kamala. I knew I was going to vote for Kamala. I’m a staunch Democrat. I fall in line with the party. She’s qualified and not just because she’s a woman. Her resume speaks for itself. And, yes, she can be president,” she said.
Harris’ campaign has not heavily focused on the historic nature of her potential presidency. Aranson believes this is the correct choice, stating, “When she wins – and it’s a when, not an if – she will be the president of all the people. And I think she has to appeal to all people, all genders, all religions.” She added that Harris’ stance on issues important to women, such as abortion, is a crucial factor in her appeal.
Cushenberry expressed confidence in Georgia’s ability to elect a woman to power and highlighted the younger generation’s role in this shift. “There’s a brand-new demographic in this election: the young people who grew up during the age of school shootings. Those children are exhausted. They went through COVID. When they went back to school, there were so many threats. They’re ready for change, and I am ready for the change that they are ushering in,” she commented.
This segment was produced by Kira Wakeam, Erika Ryan, and Alejandra Marquez Janse, with audio engineering by Tiffany Vera Castro, and edited by Courtney Dorning. The executive producer was Sami Yenigun.
