ATLANTA — Georgia is increasingly considered a battleground state for the 2020 election, with Democrats hoping to build on Stacey Abrams' strong gubernatorial run last year and Republicans intent on protecting a state that's voted reliably red for a generation.
And that means political money is swirling in the state.
Figures available from the Federal Elections Commission and reported on by the Atlanta Business Chronicle show donors in Georiga gave more than $1.5 million to 2020 campaigns in the first half of this year, most of it to the large field of Democrats.
President Donald Trump and another five Democratic candidates all raised at least six figures in Georgia between January and June. Democrats Joe Biden and Kamala Harris both raised more than $300,000.
Overall, about $1.4 million of Georgia's $1.5 million has been steered toward the Democratic primary so far (incumbent presidents not facing a serious primary challenge typically don't start raising a lot of money the year before an election.)
Campaign cash in Georgia
- Joe Biden - $350,045 from 487 donations
- Kamala Harris - $311,483 from 719 donations
- Pete Buttigieg - $277,327 from 886 donations
- Amy Klobuchar - $139,316 from 302 donations
- Bernie Sanders - $122,070 from 1,748 donations
- President Trump - $102,366 from 711 donations
- Elizabeth Warren - $88,422 from 989 donations
- Cory Booker - $75,029 from 221 donations
- Beto O'Rourke - $46,827 from 277 donations
- Andrew Yang - $11,481 from 137 donations
- Julian Castro - $2,985 from 43 donations
Pure cash figures don't tell the whole story, though. Bernie Sanders, for instance, raised a roughly similar amount of money in Georgia as Amy Klobuchar, but from more than 1,700 donations compared to her 300.
A large base of small-cash donors can indicate wide support not necessarily reflected in big money figures. Of course, it also needs to be noted that not every single donation represents an individual donor - donations are capped at $2,800 per person; a wealthy person might donate $2,800 in one swoop, while someone else may make multiple donations of $5 or $10.
The 2020 race will continue to heat up in Georgia next month, with a Democratic debate set to be held in the state on Nov. 20 and a visit by Trump to Atlanta scheduled for Nov. 8.
The Democratic primary in Georgia will be held March 24.
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