Georgia GOP lawmakers call off redistricting special session
The Georgia legislature has decided not to address redrawing the state’s congressional map during a special session,despite Governor Brian Kemp’s request to do so ahead of the 2028 election cycle.Rather, lawmakers plan to focus on passing tax relief measures and ratifying the state’s gas tax suspension. House GOP leaders argue that redistricting should only proceed after sufficient review of a recent Supreme Court ruling that limits the use of race in map-drawing and affects ongoing legal challenges, including Georgia’s map disputes. Kemp emphasized that while he supports moving forward, the decision ultimately lies with the General Assembly, which has historically conducted redistricting with care and public input. The move comes after the Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which reshaped the legal landscape for redistricting, and Kemp has not called for immediate redistricting efforts for the 2026 elections. The article also notes Kemp’s political backing in a closely contested gubernatorial race and highlights ongoing legislative deliberations on redistricting and other priorities.
The Georgia legislature plans to hold off on redrawing the state’s congressional map during Wednesday’s special legislative session, despite a request from Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) to take up redistricting ahead of the 2028 election cycle.
Instead, Republican leaders said they want lawmakers to focus on tax relief measures and ratifying the state’s gas tax suspension. In a letter to Kemp, House GOP leaders argued that any redistricting effort should proceed only after lawmakers have had sufficient time to evaluate the implications of a recent Supreme Court ruling.
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“In regard to your request to redistrict for the 2028 election cycle, the House has always conducted redistricting with considerable time for public input and with careful attention to constitutional requirements and the interests of every Georgia community,” the lawmakers wrote.
“Since this process has the potential to impact every voter, it deserves the same responsible, fact-driven approach that guides every policy we consider as lawmakers, especially as we seek to understand the full implications of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais.”
Kemp called the special session in May following the Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, which limited the use of race in congressional map-drawing and reshaped the legal framework governing redistricting disputes. The decision called into question several lower-court rulings issued under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, including a 2023 order requiring Georgia to redraw portions of its congressional map after it was found to be discriminatory. Notably, Kemp did not call a special session to redraw maps ahead of the 2026 elections, as President Donald Trump requested he do, and as other red states have done.
While Kemp urged lawmakers to move forward with reapportionment during the special session, he acknowledged that the decision ultimately rests with the General Assembly.
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“I do not believe there is reason to delay the apportionment process, especially with the legislature already convening,” Kemp said. “Legislative districting, however, is the responsibility of the General Assembly, and it is within their discretion to defer the issue until a later date.”
The letter was signed by several top House Republicans, including Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones, House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration, and Majority Whip James Burchett.
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