ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Atlanta was home in 2024 to the moment when America’s already historic presidential election took on an entirely different political dimension — one that dramatically changed the nation’s political course for years, or perhaps decades, to come.
On June 27, President Joe Biden and his predecessor, Donald Trump, met on a CNN stage in Midtown Atlanta near Georgia Tech for their one and only scheduled debate, broadcast on national TV.
Biden’s halting debate performance shocked his Democratic Party’s supporters to their core, and eventually led to his decision to end his reelection bid. That cleared the way for Vice President Kamala Harris to secure the Democratic nomination for president in a matter of days, fast tracking her to an electoral showdown with the nation’s 45th president.
On Nov. 5, 2024, Trump handed Harris and the Democratic Party a solid, overwhelming defeat when he carried Georgia and every other battleground state. At ge 78, Trump – now the first-ever convicted felon to win the White House, and the first ex-president since Grover Cleveland in the 19th century to win non-consecutive terms to the Oval Office – is also the oldest man ever elected president.
Full coverage of the Trump-Biden debate from Atlanta News First
Atlanta and Georgia played a critical role in Trump’s political comeback, unprecedented in American history. But the Peach State and its capital city also featured other major political headlines in 2024, and Atlanta News First covered them extensively throughout the year.
- A century of history: Jimmy Carter turns 100
- President Biden renews call for gun laws after Georgia school shooting
- Death sentences for two men convicted of Georgia crimes commuted by President Biden
Atlanta News First and Atlanta News First+ provide you with the latest news, headlines and insights as Georgia continues its role at the forefront of the nation’s political scene. Download our Atlanta News First app for the latest political news and information.
Copyright 2024 WANF. All rights reserved.
