ATLANTA — The Georgia Republican Party effectively endorsed foregoing the state's primary Wednesday, one day after Donald Trump beat Nikki Haley in New Hampshire and looked on course to secure the GOP nomination.
In a joint statement, Georgia GOP Chairman Josh McKoon, National Committeeman Jason Thompson and National Committeewoman Ginger Howard said it was time to "move to the general election phase of this campaign."
"As we look at the map & the path going forward it is difficult to see how Ambassador Haley can secure the nomination," the statement said. "Republican voters have sent a clear message - they want to see the GOP unite around our eventual nominee which is going to be President Donald Trump."
RELATED: Donald Trump wins New Hampshire primary as rematch with Joe Biden appears increasingly likely
The statement echoed calls by other prominent Georgia Republican lawmakers - among them Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Rich McCormick -- to effectively call the race for Trump, who became the first Republican presidential candidate to win open races in Iowa and New Hampshire since both states began leading the election calendar in 1976.
Other Republican voices in Georgia pushed back -- Cody Hall, a former spokesman for Gov. Brian Kemp, wrote on X in response to the Georgia GOP statement: "The GAGOP’s role is to support our party’s nominees, not try to decide them. One would think they should have learned that lesson in 2022."
Craig Lutz, a Republican former member of the Hall County Board of Commissioners, also replied to the Georgia GOP's post and wrote: "It's good to see that Iowa and New Hampshire voters dictate for the whole country."
McCormick, the 6th District U.S. representative, meanwhile said in a statement that he was "calling on my fellow conservatives - in the Peach State and across this great nation - to join me in supporting Donald Trump for President."
Trump had 54.5% in New Hampshire, and Haley had 43.3%. The next race will be the Nevada Caucuses on Feb. 8, with further primaries in South Carolina -- Haley's home state -- and Michigan on Feb. 24 and Feb. 27. Super Tuesday, when 16 states are scheduled to vote, is March 5.
Georgia is not due to hold its primary until the following Tuesday, March 12.