Leaders in the Georgia House of Representatives said they would not take up redistricting during a legislative session that had been set to start Wednesday afternoon — and that had been called expressly to erase majority-Black districts.
Gov. Brian Kemp called the session to draw legislative maps before the 2028 election with the aim of creating boundaries more favorable to Republicans. Georgia was to be the latest Southern state to consider redistricting after a recent Supreme Court ruling that weakened Voting Rights Act protections for Black representation.
“Changes to Georgia’s maps should take place only when members of the General Assembly and citizens have been given ample opportunity to gather the facts, provide input, and engage in meaningful discussion,” the House’s Republican leadership, including the speaker, Jon Burns, wrote in a letter to Mr. Kemp on Wednesday. “For this reason, we will not be taking up congressional or legislative redistricting for the 2028 election cycle during this special session.”
Some Republicans had quietly expressed reluctance about redistricting ahead of the session, fearful it would energize Democrats during an election cycle with pivotal statewide races on the ballot. They include the governor’s office being vacated by Mr. Kemp and the Senate seat held by Jon Ossoff, a Democrat seeking re-election.
Still, others in the Republican Party had wanted to take advantage of majorities in the State Legislature and the certainty of having a Republican governor to push through a favorable map for 2028 now.
Even as other Southern states — including Tennessee, Alabama and Louisiana — rushed to create new maps in time for the 2026 election, Mr. Kemp resisted, saying it was too late as voting in the May primaries had already started.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
