Kemp Declines Special Session to Redraw Georgia Maps Before Primary
Governor Brian Kemp rejects GOP calls for special session to redraw political maps, keeping current districts for May 19 primary despite Supreme Court ruling.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA — Governor Brian Kemp has rejected calls from Republican leaders to convene a special legislative session to redraw Georgia’s political maps before the state’s May 19 primary elections, despite a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that weakened voting rights protections.
The decision means current electoral maps will remain in place for this year’s elections, even though the Supreme Court this week delivered a major blow to a key provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that previously prevented states from creating legislative maps that dilute minority voting power.
According to the governor’s office, any effects from the Supreme Court ruling will not impact Georgia until after this year’s election cycle concludes.
Previous Redistricting Efforts
Kemp previously called a special legislative session in 2023 to redraw the state’s legislative lines after a judge ruled the state’s earlier mapping attempt violated the law by harming the voting power of Black Georgians. That special session required lawmakers to return during the holiday season to address the court-mandated redistricting.
Republican leaders and candidates have been pressuring the governor to declare another special session this year to redraw the lines in a manner that would benefit conservative candidates, taking advantage of the weakened federal oversight.
Primary Election Activity
The redistricting debate comes as Georgia prepares for its May 19 primary elections. The Atlanta Press Club hosted debates this week at a Georgia Public Broadcasting studio ahead of the upcoming primaries, generating significant political discussion across the state.
Early voting activity has shown increased participation compared to previous election cycles, according to state election officials, though specific turnout numbers have not yet been released.
The governor’s decision to maintain the current maps for 2026 elections ensures that districts drawn during the 2023 special session will govern this year’s electoral contests. Those maps were created under the previous interpretation of voting rights law, before the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that reduced federal protections for minority voting rights.
Political observers expect the redistricting debate to intensify following this year’s elections, as the new legal framework could allow for significant changes to Georgia’s electoral map structure in future cycles.
