ATLANTA — In the early hours of Wednesday morning, the presidential race was called for former President and now projected President-elect Donald Trump. His path to victory included Georgia’s 16 electoral college votes, which were won by a margin of more than 110,000 votes.
“It’s a tough day for Democrats -- obviously not what we expected,” Georgia State Sen. Jason Esteves said.
The uncontested state senator, who clinched a victory in his own run, echoes a feeling across the state for Democrats. Esteves was an active surrogate for the Harris campaign through the state of Georgia. During the campaign, Democrats relied heavily on key messaging points surrounding the fight for democracy, women’s reproductive rights, and lowering the cost of goods and healthcare.
Voters on both sides of the aisle saw the cost of goods and the economy as significant issues that were pushing them to the polls. Esteves recognized that Democrats may not have reached voters as well as Republicans were in tune on that issue.
“It’s disheartening that people felt the need to trade what they believe is a potential benefit economically for giving up some of their freedoms and some of their rights. And that is something that we will have to fight against, both in state legislature here in Georgia and at the federal level,” Esteves said.
State Representative Derrick Jackson, in the 68th district, also campaigned up and down the state of Georgia with the Harris team. He told 11Alive that turnout was the issue.
“Men generally did not show up,” Jackson said. “Rural Georgia showed up, and the urban and suburban areas of Georgia did not."
Jackson also told 11Alive that he felt “numb” hearing the news of the presidential race, saying he believes the country deserves more than what took place.
“Seventy-one million citizens say they are OK with having a president that’s a convicted felon,” Jackson said.
Trump has faced legal issues across the country, including charges in Fulton County. Despite the legal turmoil, his lead this year far surpassed the nearly 12,000 votes that closely divided the race with Joe Biden in 2020.
“It seems like there was a sentiment that the economy and direction of the country was going in a direction the people didn’t want it to go,” Esteves said.
The economy and cost of goods were a tipping point at the top of the ticket, but Democrats saw some wins in down-ballot races in the state.
Some key wins for Georgia democrats included the Fulton County District Attorney race, where Democrat Fani Willis defeated a challenge by Republican Courtney Kramer. Democrat Lucy McBath took a commanding lead over Republican Jeff Criswall in the newly redrawn 6th congressional district. In the State House, GOP incumbents Mesha Mainor in the 56th and Ken Vance in the 149th lost their seats to democrats Bryce Berry and Floyd Griffin, respectively.
“We have to do a lot of listening, not as much talking, then we have to receive that feedback and do something about it,” Esteves said.