The 2004 Georgia presidential election marked a significant shift in the state's political landscape
In short: In 2004, Georgia delivered a double-digit victory for George W. Bush, a result that now stands as the last of its kind in the state. While the election solidified Republican dominance in the legislature, it also featured surprising local trends that have since completely reversed in the modern era.
On November 2, 2004, Georgia voters participated in a presidential election that saw incumbent George W. Bush secure a 16.60% margin of victory. This outcome was notable for several reasons: it was the first time the state had voted Republican in three consecutive elections, and it remains the last time Georgia was decided by a double-digit margin as of 2024. Bush performed nearly five percentage points better than he had in 2000, winning a wide majority of counties and nine of the state's 13 congressional districts.
The political map of 2004 was heavily defined by racial polarization, mirroring trends in other Southern states like Alabama and Mississippi. White voters, who comprised approximately 70% of the electorate, largely supported Bush, while African American voters, representing 30% of the population, favored John Kerry. Democratic support was concentrated in black-majority counties, the city of Atlanta, and Athens-Clarke County, a college town. Conversely, Republican strength dominated most other areas, including the affluent, predominantly white suburbs of northern Fulton County.
The 2004 cycle was a watershed moment for Georgia's political structure. Republicans gained control of both houses of the Georgia General Assembly for the first time since Reconstruction, following Johnny Isakson's victory for the U.S. Senate seat previously held by Zell Miller. Yet, the election also contained anomalies that highlight how much the state has changed. It was the final time Metro Atlanta counties like Douglas, Rockdale, and Newton voted Republican, and the last time Jimmy Carter's home county, Sumter, supported a Republican presidential candidate. Furthermore, Bush remains the only Republican to win Metro Atlanta in a presidential race, and the last to win the state consecutively.
Despite the high stakes, the presidential campaigns did not visit or advertise in Georgia during the fall. Bush raised $6,656,076 compared to Kerry's $2,282,977. While 12 news organizations correctly predicted a Republican win, the actual results underscored a state in transition, balancing long-standing regional voting patterns against emerging demographic shifts that would eventually reshape the state's electoral competitiveness in the decades that followed.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: 2004 United States presidential election in Georgia
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