Five Counties Propose Nonpartisan Elections To Remove Party Labels From Ballots

Today marks the single most consequential new development in Georgia politics: the Republican-led House advanced a sweeping plan to strip party labels from most local races in Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, Cobb, and Gwinnett counties, enshrining nonpartisan elections for district attorneys, solicitors general, county commissioners, court clerks and tax commissioners starting in 2028.

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AccessWDUN

The measure would apply to those offices in five core counties, while sheriffs will continue to be elected under party labels when the change takes effect in 2028.

AJC

"With Democrats steadily wiping out Republicans electorally in the core Atlanta counties of swing-state Georgia, Republicans have a new idea: Make most local candidates run for office without party labels."

Democrats assailed the bill as trying to rig elections so Republicans running without party labels had a better chance to win.

"Carter Chapman, a spokesperson for Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, declined to say Friday whether Kemp will sign the bill into law." The association representing district attorneys argues that the law can’t change the partisan status of district attorneys because they aren’t county officers, but instead state judicial branch officers.

Beyond the headline, the specifics lay out who will run nonpartisan races, and where.

The measure would require nonpartisan elections for district attorneys, lower level county prosecutors called solicitors general, county commissioners, court clerks and tax commissioners.

Associated Press

It would apply in Fulton County, which includes most of Atlanta, as well as the suburbs of Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb and Gwinnett counties.

Sheriffs will continue to be elected under party labels when the change goes into effect in 2028.

The measure would apply to district attorneys, county commissioners and tax commissioners in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties starting in 2028.

The pushback from Democrats is immediate and pointed, with opponents framing the bill as a partisan maneuver to blunt Democratic gains in metro Atlanta.

“With their candidates losing in metro Atlanta, Georgia GOP seeks to remove party labels With their candidates losing in metro Atlanta, Georgia GOP seeks to remove party labels ATLANTA (AP) — With Democrats steadily wiping out Republicans electorally in the core Atlanta counties of swing-state Georgia, Republicans have a new idea: Make most local candidates run for office without party labels”

Associated Press

The measure is described by opponents as a bid to dilute the power of Democratic-leaning counties by removing party labels from top local offices.

The association representing district attorneys contends that the change cannot alter the partisan status of district attorneys since they are state judicial officers, not county officers, complicating how any constitutional change would work.

The bill cleared the House in Georgia with a notable margin despite fierce Democratic opposition, highlighting the persistent partisan divide over how counties near Atlanta should be elected.

Looking ahead, proponents contend that a state constitutional amendment would be required to fully reconfigure the status of county prosecutors, a step deemed politically difficult given current party dynamics.

The argument from the district attorneys’ association is that a constitutional change is needed to implement these shifts beyond mere statute.

Associated Press

Governor Brian Kemp’s position remains uncertain, with a Kemp spokesperson declining to say whether he would sign the bill when it lands on his desk after legislative passage.

The path forward now hinges on the Kemp administration, potential legal challenges, and whether broader constitutional changes could be mobilized in the Georgia Legislature.