Trump, Biden secure party nominations after Georgia, Mississippi primary wins

(The Center Square) – Former President Donald Trump picked up 59 delegates after winning Georgia Tuesday, and with another victory in Mississippi and an expected win in Washington state, he will exceed the necessary delegate count to become the presumptive Republican nominee.

President Joe Biden also won enough delegates Tuesday to secure the Democratic nomination, setting up a likely rematch of 2020 between the two. Nominations are not official until the Republican and Democratic National Conventions this summer.

Trump was the last remaining GOP candidate and won with 84.4% of preliminary results in Georgia, with 75% of votes counted. He defeated a group of challengers that included former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who both suspended their campaigns in recent weeks.

The former president needed 1,215 delegates to become the nominee, and victories in Georgia and Mississippi plus a projected win in Washington put him at 1,228, according to several national media outlets.

Biden won Georgia with a 95.3% victory in the Democratic primary with 72% reporting.

“Four years ago, Georgia Democrats put President Biden and Vice President Harris in the White House, and tonight, we showed we’re ready to send them back for four more years,” said U.S. Rep. and Democratic Party of Georgia chairwoman Nikema Williams in a news release. “There is a clear choice before voters in November: President Biden, who is fighting for progress every day for Georgia families; or Donald Trump, who has nothing to offer except hate, division, and a personal vendetta.

“The road to the White House runs directly through the Peach State. Georgians made our voices heard at the ballot box – we delivered tonight for President Biden, and we’ll deliver again in November.”

Georgia will hold its primaries for Congressional seats on May 14, so the presidential races took center stage on Tuesday.