Georgia’s 2024 presidential primaries will take place next March 12, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced on Thursday of this week.

“Georgia is a bellwether state,” Raffensperger said during a news conference at the state Capitol, acknowledging the Peach State’s relatively new status as one of a handful of swing states in national politics. “If you can win in Georgia, you will win nationally.”

In announcing the mid-March date, Raffensperger — a Republican — rejected a recommendation by the Democratic National Committee late last year that Georgia’s presidential primaries be moved up to February, which would have made Georgia the fourth state to vote.

Two weeks of early voting will take place prior to the primaries.