ATLANTA — Governor Brian Kemp says Georgia lawmakers will return to the Capitol next month for a special session to redraw the state’s political maps for the 2028 election cycle.
Lawmakers are scheduled to convene June 17 following a recent Supreme Court ruling involving gerrymandering and the Voting Rights Act.
Kemp pushed back on criticism from Democrats, who have already vowed to challenge the redistricting effort.
“That doesn’t surprise me they’d say that, but I mean they haven’t seen the maps yet, so they might want to wait and see what the legislature does but I can’t really speak to that right now. We just made the call and we’ll see what the map drawers do,” Kemp said.
Kemp says he has maintained that Georgia would eventually have to redraw the maps.
“I’ve said the whole time that listen we’re going to have to redraw the maps; it’s not a matter of if but when, and I think right after the run-off is a good time to do that,” Kemp said.
The move comes as Kemp has recently signed legislation that impacts local elections in five metro Atlanta counties, including changes to how some races are labeled.
That law impacts Cobb, Clayton, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties, officials said.
The governor also said he applauded the recent Supreme Court ruling.
“The Supreme Court ruled, which I applaud and I’ve said the whole time, that listen we’re going to have to redraw the maps; it’s not a matter of if but when,” Kemp said.
Kemp says because voting is already underway, the new maps would apply beginning with the 2028 election.
In addition to redistricting, lawmakers are expected to address a July 1 deadline to remove QR codes from ballots. Without a legislative fix, some election officials believe the state could have to move to paper ballots.
U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock criticized the governor’s decision in a statement.
“Georgians are angry about the broken promises of this President. Everything is more expensive because of an endless war and reckless tariffs. On top of that, 1.2 million Georgians saw their health care premiums double, all to fund tax cuts for billionaires,” Warnock said.
“Now, the same people who robbed Georgians of their doctor are robbing Georgians of their voice by redrawing the lines. Republicans under the Gold Dome are using their powers, not to make life more affordable, but to escape accountability from the people,” the statement continued.
Warnock also said he plans to continue efforts to ban gerrymandering at the federal level.
WSB Radio’s Jonathan O’Brien contributed to this story.
