The gulf between the top Democrats and Republicans in Georgia is as wide as it has been in decades.

No matter who emerges in the May 22 race, Democrats will nominate someone who pledges to adopt broad new firearm restrictions, oppose socially conservative legislation, pump tens of millions of dollars into a Medicaid expansion and take steps to decriminalize marijuana.

And a Republican victor is poised to push for looser gun laws, “religious liberty” legislation and tougher restrictions on immigrants who came to to the country illegally.

Candidates always race to their base in primaries, but the maneuvering toward the flanks is sharper than ever. And it will make it more difficult for whoever emerges next week to dart back toward the center in November.

Read more: Shifting political ground pushes Georgia candidates away from center 

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Speaker of the House Mike Johnson — pictured during a news conference in October — said Wednesday he didn't think the Election Day wins for Democrats were "any reflection about Republicans at all." (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

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Travelers walk around the baggage claim in the South Terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. Atlanta is among the airports where the FAA will reduce flights due to the shutdown, and airports are facing a shortage of air traffic controllers. 
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