Gov. Kemp calls special session to consider redistricting in Georgia

Leaders react to potential Georgia voting map redrawing

Political leaders are reacting after Gov. Kemp called a special legislature session to considering changing Georgia's voting district map. 

ATLANTA - Gov. Brian Kemp has called a special session for the Georgia General Assembly to redraw the state’s congressional, state representative, and state senate districts.

Georgia redistricting

What we know:

The executive order, signed Wednesday, directs lawmakers to convene in Atlanta beginning June 17. The session will focus on revising Georgia’s electoral boundaries in light of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais. 

That ruling, which limited the use of race as a predominant factor in redistricting, has sparked a wave of map revisions across the South.

Previously, Kemp clarified that the redistricting process will not disrupt current voting. Because the 2026 election cycle is already underway and ballots have been prepared, any maps redrawn during this session will not take effect until the 2028 election cycle.  

What we don't know:

At this time, no proposed maps have been made public. 

What they're saying:

"The Supreme Court decision is clear," Josh McKoon, Georgia Republican Party Chairman, said. "That we can't have these racially gerrymandered maps anymore. They're illegal."

Emory University Political Science Professor Bernard Fraga says the new maps could leave only a handful of predominantly Black congressional districts.

"If there was an aggressive gerrymander pursued in the summer session, what that could mean is that that's the only majority black districts and only, reliably Democratic districts in the entire state," Fraga said.

One of the most apparent targets for these changes is the seat held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, which is one of the last rural majority-Black districts in the Deep South.

"I want to live in an America where we don't racially segregate voters," Josh McKoon, Georgia Republican Party Chairman, said. "And I think that's where most Americans are."

Meanwhile, Democrats say they are remaining resolute.

"We are now in a fight that we thought was over, we thought was fought in the 50s and 60s, and that's our fight," Harold Jones II, State Sen. (D) Minority Leader, said.

RELATED:

• Supreme Court ruling sparks Georgia redistricting debate
• Supreme Court rules on key Voting Rights Act rule, voids majority Black congressional district in Louisiana
• Gov. Kemp: No electoral map changes before 2026 elections