Calls renewed to move Ga. to front of voting line

DES MOINES, IOWA — The caucus confusion that upended Monday’s vote in Iowa triggered renewed calls for Georgia or other more diverse states to head to the front of the voting line in the next presidential election cycle.

Long before Monday’s disarray, a growing number of influential Democrats said Iowa, with a largely rural and overwhelmingly white population, was not reflective of the nation’s diversity. As Iowa officials struggled with the aftermath of Monday’s caucus, some forcefully floated Georgia as a stand-in.

“My vote is Georgia — it has one of the youngest, most diverse electorates that’s only getting younger and more diverse,” said Jon Favreau, a former speechwriter for President Barack Obama and a popular podcast host. “And it’s big, but not as expensive and television-focused as really big states.”

Georgia’s population is roughly triple the size of Iowa’s, and its population is younger and growing far faster than its smaller counterpart. Roughly one-third of Georgia’s residents are black, compared with 4% of Iowa residents. The two states have similar proportions of Hispanic residents.

While jumping the line is unlikely — neighboring South Carolina appears to have a better chance — it didn’t stop some Georgia leaders from raising the possibility. Gov. Brian Kemp told News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB on Tuesday that Georgia could “definitely handle it.”

The other early-voting states, meanwhile, will enjoy a new surge of attention. White House hopefuls fast turned their focus to New Hampshire, which holds its primary in a week. Next up are contests in Nevada and South Carolina, the first state in the South to cast ballots this election season.

That race could be the best indicator of how Georgia Democrats will vote in their primary March 24, given the similarities between the neighboring states’ majority-black voting blocs. It will also provide a giant test for former Vice President Joe Biden, who sees the South as his firewall.

“It raises the stakes for Biden,” said Alan Abramowitz, an Emory University political scientist who was in Iowa for the caucus. “It means he really needs a strong showing in South Carolina. It’s looming very, very large. If he can’t do well there, he’s finished.”