Atlanta, GA
Georgia’s Black voters could be key as Biden and Trump vie for support ahead of Atlanta debate
Samuel Warren, a Black retiree from southwest Georgia who cuts grass for side income, recently explained the financial bottom line on why he plans to vote for Republican Donald Trump rather than President Joe Biden in their looming rematch Nov. 5.
Warren’s preferred candidate in this year’s presidential election is in contrast to the typical Black voter in swing states like Georgia, where 88% of the Black voters cast ballots for the Democrat’s Biden-Harris ticket in the 2020 presidential contest that was decided by less than 12,000 votes.
There has been a concerted effort by the Trump and Biden presidential campaigns to woo the Black vote during recent visits to metro Atlanta, a world away from Warren’s home in rural Ellaville, a town of about 2,000 residents, roughly one third of whom are Black.
“I don’t care too much for Biden, Trump was alright. Trump helped people,” Warren said earlier this month while stopping by the Gas N Go in Ellaville for a cold drink. “He helped the people. I got my stimulus check, but Biden got in there, I ain’t got nothing.”
“He not only helped me, he helped the rest of us, not only Black, but white too,” Warren said. “Biden got in there and we ain’t got nothing. They’re always talking about ‘we’re gonna get it, we’re gonna get it.’”
If Warren and other Black voters withhold their typical support for Democrats on their ballots, it could spell the difference in a Georgia general election expected to be decided by a small slice of the electorate.
The stakes are high for both recent White House occupants as they head into a key televised debate in Atlanta later this week.
The Republican Party has gained ground in Georgia since the last election, and perceptions about the high costs of inflation have caused some Black voters to lose enthusiasm for Biden. Several political experts say the Biden-Harris ticket is at risk of losing some votes to Trump, but the more likely outcome is that a larger number of apathetic left-leaning voters won’t show up at the polls.
Trump and Biden easily won the March 12 presidential preference primaries in Georgia, where 95% of Black voters picked a Democratic ballot, a figure consistent with primaries in 2016 and 2020.
In recent months, Trump, Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris have made campaign stops along the campaign trail in Georgia to court Black voters, as well as a key youth demographic.
According to a May 20 poll conducted by Pew Research Center, the Democratic Party has lost support from Black college graduates in recent years, falling from 93% in 2012 to 79% in 2023. While 7% of Black voters 50 and older identify as or lean Republican, 17% of Black voters under 50 do the same.
“Black voters will play a key role in determining the outcome of the 2024 presidential election,” wrote Kiana Cox, a Pew senior researcher on race and ethnicity. “And while Black voters remain overwhelmingly Democratic and support Joe Biden over Donald Trump by a wide margin, Biden’s advantage among this group is not as wide as it was four years ago.”
Several recent national polls forecasting the 2024 presidential election indicate strong support for Trump among Black voters in swing states like Georgia. A New York Times/Siena national poll indicates that 23% of Black voters favor Trump, which would be a significant victory for a Republican Party that has not received that level of Black support for its presidential candidate since Richard Nixon in 1960, according to Alan Abramowitz, professor emeritus of political science at Emory University.
“Of course, none of this evidence proves that there will not be a dramatic increase in Black support for Donald Trump and other Republican candidates in 2024 — and even a small increase could be important given how close the key swing states could be in November,” Abramowitz wrote in a March 27 article published by The Center for Politics. “It is possible that recent national and swing state polls are picking up a trend that has only begun since the 2022 midterm election.”
Trump, Biden campaign stops in Georgia
On May 18, Biden delivered a commencement address at Atlanta’s Morehouse College, a historically Black college, where he highlighted the record amount of federal money invested in universities serving minority students during his first term in the White House.
While Biden renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, about 100 protesters marched near campus in protest against his appearance, largely because of his continued support for Israel in its war with Hamas-led militant groups.
On June 18, Harris made her sixth visit to Georgia this year to discuss how to curb gun violence in Black communities during a youth summit in Atlanta hosted by Quavious “Quavo” Marshall, a member of the former Migos rap group.
A few days earlier, Harris was in Atlanta for a one-on-one interview with TV host Steve Harvey before an audience of several thousand people at the 100 Black Men of America national conference. Harris stressed the importance of making more Black voters aware of the various economic investments made under the Biden-Harris administration while also advocating for their support in the upcoming election.
In April, Trump’s visit to a Chick-fil-A in west Atlanta near the campuses of several historically Black colleges and universities became a viral moment nationally. The former president’s campaign had Trump purchase milkshakes for customers and pose for photographs with an audience primarily composed of Black employees, college activists, and customers.
Likewise, Trump’s Super PAC, Make America Great Again, is targeting Black voters in middle Georgia with TV ads claiming that Biden’s economic and immigration policies should cause him to lose the support of Black, Hispanic and young voters.
Rasheed Canton, who graduated from Morehouse in May, said that Biden and Harris endorsing a college student loan forgiveness program that has provided billions in debt relief is a good way for them to get young Black voters to the polls in November.
“From a political standpoint, choosing not to vote is the same as voting against what you believe, because you’re empowering the other side by not showing up,” Canton said.
“Student loan forgiveness impacts (Blacks) disproportionately, but I know it is that hard for any administration to say ‘we’re doing this for Blacks’ because we’re only 12% or 13% of (U.S.) population at most,” Canton said. “But when you can sell programs that have been good for all people, that is powerful.”
Polls suggest Biden trailing Trump in Georgia
According to Pew, Black Georgia residents accounted for nearly half of the state’s 1.9 million increase in eligible voters since 2000.
The New York Times published a poll earlier this month that had 26% of respondents between the ages of 18 and 29 expressing support for Biden while 30% said they would vote for Trump. A Fox News national survey released on June 19 indicates that Trump could receive 27% of Black votes in November, a threefold increase from the 2020 election. However, in 2020, a similar poll by Fox News predicted Biden would get 79% of Black votes, but he actually won 92%.
Other polls this year show Biden’s support is declining in Georgia.
The New York Post’s front page on Friday featured a recent poll showing Trump leading Biden in swing states and Thursday’s Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey found Trump leading Biden in Georgia 45% to 41%.
In a Pew survey conducted in May, 77% of registered Black voters prefer Biden to Trump. However, about half of those respondents said that if given the opportunity to choose, they said they would prefer to replace both candidates with someone else.
Retiree Vincent Thornton, born and raised in Ellaville, described Trump as a “so-so” president during his previous term and said he’s backing Biden this year.
Thornton said Trump’s recent felony convictions in connection with falsifying business records to hide hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels factored into his decision.
“I just look at what he had done for all the felonies he got. And I don’t understand why if he can get felonies and still run for president, and if a person out here, like a poor person like me, gets a felony or something like that, they can’t vote.
Reporter Ross Williams contributed to this report.
This story was provided by WABE content partner Georgia Recorder.
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Dream hold off Chicago Sky 82-75, Rhyne Howard becomes youngest player to hit rare WNBA milestone
The Atlanta Dream beat the Chicago Sky 82-75 Tuesday night, pulling away in the fourth quarter to move to 3-1 in Commissioner’s Cup play.
Atlanta outscored Chicago 25-17 in the fourth to put the game away after the Sky had cut it to one point midway through the third quarter. Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard each made key plays down the stretch to secure the win.
Howard became the youngest player in WNBA history to reach 2,500 career points, 500 rebounds, 500 assists, 200 steals and 100 blocks, finishing with 17 points and five assists.
Angel Reese added 17 points and 17 rebounds, her second straight 17-rebound game, the first time any player in Atlanta Dream history has done that back-to-back. It was also her eighth double-double of the season and the 57th of her career, the most double-doubles in WNBA history through 75 games.
Naz Hillmon chipped in a season-high 16 points on 50% shooting, knocking down three 3-pointers, while Allisha Gray added 14 points and three steals off the bench.
Atlanta led after the first quarter, 18-17, then fell behind by as many as three in the second half before pulling away in the fourth quarter. Canada controlled the floor all night, finishing with 14 points and six assists.
Natasha Cloud led Chicago with 18 points off the bench, and Skylar Diggins added 17. But the Sky couldn’t stop Atlanta’s second-half surge.
With the Dream’s third Commissioner Cup win, they have raised $10,000 for The King Center, their designated charity for the competition.
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and other city leaders are expected to gather in downtown Atlanta Wednesday to share plans aimed at helping visitors and residents safely enjoy FIFA World Cup events in the city.
Ahead of the press conference, Dickens spoke about safety concerns, and MARTA announced its planned changes for the FIFA World Cup on Tuesday afternoon.
MARTA’s safety plan announcement comes less than a week before Spain and Cape Verde are set to face each other inside Atlanta Stadium.
It also comes during a violent stretch for MARTA, with a shooting last week and two stabbings, one of them deadly, more than 10 days ago.
MARTA is under a federal investigation following those incidents.
“A lot happened in a short amount of time and it’s time for us to show the world that they can course-correct,” Dickens said Tuesday.
Dickens said the recent incidents have put new pressure on MARTA as the region prepares for an influx of riders heading to matches and related events.
“This is go time. So MARTA is going to step up big, I think, to make sure they meet the moment. I am optimistic about what has occurred over the last couple of weeks has really lit a fire for MARTA that they will be able to meet this moment,” Dickens said.
MARTA has shared a safety plan it says will begin Thursday, June 11.
Under the plan, MARTA Police will work 10- to 12-hour shifts, six days a week, patrolling trains, stations, buses, bus transfer hubs and parking lots. MARTA also says its Real Time Crime Center will monitor the system around the clock through a network of cameras.
The agency says officers will also be stationed in a Mobile Command Vehicle positioned at key locations, and MARTA’s Emergency Operations Center will be activated for match and fan fest days.
MARTA said other changes are aimed at reducing crowding at stations on match and fan fest days, including trains running every five minutes to shorten wait times.
The agency also plans to keep at least 30 buses on standby and use special shuttle trains near Atlanta Stadium to handle ridership surges, while urging riders to spread out by using multiple downtown stations such as SEC District, Vine City and Peachtree Center.
MARTA has also launched a new safety feature in its transit app: integrated incident reporting that allows riders to report safety concerns in real time without needing the standalone “See & Say” app.
Some riders said the changes should have come sooner.
“Y’all are going to do it for some people coming across? What about the people of Atlanta?” MARTA rider Michael James said.
Other riders welcomed the update, calling it “much better” and saying it was “a good addition” with a “simple display.”
Meanwhile, James questioned how effective an app can be in a fast-moving emergency.
“I mean, you talking about an app, by the time you get to the phone, you’re already stabbed to death,” he said. “How am I getting stabbed and I’m looking for a phone?”
Copyright 2026 WANF. All rights reserved.
World Cup bag rules explained in under 60 seconds
From clear bags to clutch size limits, here’s everything fans need to know about the World Cup stadium bag policy.
The eyes of the world will be on the United States, Canada and Mexico as the three countries are just days away from hosting the FIFA 2026 World Cup.
While soccer has billions of fans worldwide, there are plenty of Americans (and others) who may be turning the sport on the for the very first time.
Worried about keeping up with the matches this summer? Here’s what to know about World Cup matches as the tournament begins.
How long is a World Cup match?
Matches are scheduled for 90 minutes, a typical regulation length. However, just like in professional matches, referees can add “stoppage time” to the end of each half to account for the amount of time play was stopped for substitutions, goals, injuries and other interference.
The match is played in two, 45-minute halves with a 15 minute halftime. Typical matches last around 100 minutes once additional time is added.
However, during the knock-out stage of the tournament (after the group stages), if there is a tie at the end of regulation and additional stoppage time, then the match will go to “extra time,” similar overtime in American football.
An additional 30 minutes is put on the clock in two, 15-minute halves. If it is still tied after extra time, then the match goes to a penalty shootout, which means each team will send a player to try and score on the goalie one-on-one. This can add an additional 10 to 15 minutes, depending on how many shootout rounds there are to finally declare a winner.
How many players are on the field?
There are 22 players on the field at any given time, 11 from each team. This includes 10 outfielders and one goalie on either side of the field.
Each team will typically keep 26 players on their roster because coaches are able to make substitutions throughout the game. A player may get injured, tired or a coach may just want to switch up strategy and replaces one player on the field with one from the bench. Each team is allowed five substitutions per match, plus an extra substitution if the match goes into extra time.
What are common penalties? What is a penalty kick?
Like any sport, soccer has a set of rules that help the game keep moving and prevent players from interfering with the ball. Soccer players are unable to touch the ball with their hands or arms, and if they do it earns them a handball penalty.
Other common soccer penalties include tripping, kicking, holding or pulling jerseys, pushing or charging players, and dangerous plays like high kicks or kicking near another player’s head.
If a player is hit with a penalty, the other team will get a penalty kick. This means the ball will be placed at a specific spot, depending on the penalty, and the non-penalty team will get to kick the ball off again to a teammate, typically close to the goal.
What are yellow and red cards?
Some penalties are worse than others, and they can earn yellow or red cards for players.
For more severe penalties, or “reckless fouls,” players will be issued a yellow card. This includes deliberately wasting time, persistently breaking rules, trying to trick the referees or unsportsmanlike behavior. Warnings to players are typically issued before a yellow card is called. If a player receives two yellow cards in a match, it leads to a red card.
A red card issued to a player means they are ejected from the match and can not come back. It also means another player cannot join the field in their place, so a match could become 11-on-10. In extreme cases, like intentionally punching another player, a referee can go straight to a red card and eject a player from the match.
How many teams are playing in the World Cup?
For the first time, the World Cup tournament has been expanded to 48 teams from around the world.
These teams are divided into 12 groups of four teams for the group stage matches. These matches are not elimination rounds, and teams will play in multiple matches during this stage against the other teams in their groups.
The United States, for example, is in Group D with Paraguay, Australia and Turkey. The team plays their first match on June 12 against Paraguay. No matter the outcome of that match, the United States will play again on June 19 against Australia. The U.S. team plays Turkey on June 25 to round out the group stage.
Then, from the results of the group stage, 32 teams will make it to the elimination rounds. The winners of those matches will play in the round of 16. There will then be four quarterfinal matches, two semifinal matches and a match for third place, and one World Cup Final played on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium.
In total, there will be 104 matches played between June 11 and July 19 across three countries.
When are the World Cup matches in Atlanta?
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta Stadium) will host five group stage matches, a round of 32 match, a round of 16 match and one of the tournament’s semifinal match.
- Monday, June 15 — Spain vs Cabo Verde, Group H – Shop tickets
- Thursday, June 18 — South Africa vs Czechia, Group A – Shop tickets
- Sunday, June 21 — Spain vs Saudi Arabia, Group H – Shop tickets
- Wednesday, June 24 — Morocco vs Haiti – Shop tickets
- Saturday, June 27 — Uzbekistan vs Congo, Group K – Shop tickets
- Wednesday, July 1 — Group L winners vs third place from Group E/H/I/J/K – Shop tickets
- Tuesday, July 7 — Match 86 winners vs Match 88 winners – Shop tickets
- Wednesday, July 15 — tournament semifinal, teams TBD – Shop tickets
The World Cup is over. Does Atlanta have a professional soccer team?
The end of the World Cup does not mean you have to turn off professional-level soccer in Atlanta.
Atlanta United, the city’s MLS team, paused their season with the rest of the league for the World Cup, but will pick back up again.
The MLS season resumes July 16 and 17, and the All-Star Game will be played on July 29. The end of the regular season is Nov. 7, with an international break, then playoffs will begin for the MLS Cup Final.
Irene Wright covers the FIFA World Cup as the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today’s Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.
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