Georgia Republicans backtrack on redistricting plans
Source: NBC News
Jun. 17, 2026, 1:44 PM EDT
Georgia lawmakers will not redraw the state’s political maps this month after GOP Gov. Brian Kemp called them into a special session to do so. Following a major Supreme Court ruling on redistricting this spring, Kemp asked the Republican-led Legislature to consider new congressional and state legislative lines ahead of the 2028 election, since the 2026 election is already underway.
But on Wednesday afternoon, state Republican legislative leaders said they did not have enough time to take up redistricting in the current special session.
“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. We believe that it is important to do things the Georgia way — responsibly, transparently, and with ample opportunity for public input,” said House Speaker Jon Burns in a press conference at the state Capitol flanked by colleagues. Still, Republican leaders suggested they could revisit the issue ahead of the 2028 election cycle.
“Because any changes to our current congressional or legislative districts would not go into effect until 2028, we believe it is prudent to take the appropriate and necessary time to do this important duty the right way and not to rush through it,” said Republican state Senate President Pro Tempore Larry Walker III. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Tuesday that some Republicans feared a redistricting push months out from competitive Senate and governor’s races a could backfire and mobilize Democrats in the battleground state.
Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/georgia-republicans-backtrack-redistricting-plans-rcna350566