Georgia Republicans table redistricting ahead of special session

Republican lawmakers in Georgia have said that they won’t consider mid-decade redistricting during a special session called by GOP Gov. Brian Kemp (R) that was set to start Wednesday,

“In regards to reapportionment, when the House learned that it was placed on the call for a special session, we knew it was not the right path forward for our state at this time,” Georgia’s House Speaker Jon Burns (R) said at a press conference Wednesday afternon.

“Changes to our district maps have the potential to impact every voter in Georgia, and they deserve the same thoughtful, fact-driven process that has always guided the house,” Burns said, sharing plans for meetings to hear from voters on the issue.

The decision puts a hold on the redistricting battle in the key swing state ahead of the 2028 elections after a landmark Supreme Court decision opened the door for new congressional lines.

Kemp had called the session weeks after the conservative-majority Supreme Court weakened a key section of the Voting Rights Act, urging lawmakers to reconvene on June 17 to “consider enacting, revising, repealing, or amending general law for the division of the State into appropriate districts” before 2028

Burns cited pending litigation in which judges are analyzing the impact of the ruling Louisiana v. Callais, that reignited redistricting arms race in Southern states.

The Republican lawmaker noted that “we are confident that Georgia will prevail in the pending appeals and look forward to receiving additional judicial opinions to assist us in our future map-drawing efforts.”

“For these reasons, House Republicans will not be taking up congressional or legislative redistricting maps for the 2028 election cycle during this special session,” Burns said, prompting cheers from the crowds that had gathered to hear his remarks in the state capitol.

It was too late to draw new Goergia maps before the state’s May primaries, but Kemp argued that the high court’s decision “requires” Georgia to adopt new maps before the next cycle.