Georgia Republicans Reject Redistricting During June 17 Special Session After Gov. Brian Kemp Call

Georgia Republican legislative leaders said they would not redraw the state’s political maps during a special legislative session after Gov. Brian Kemp called lawmakers into the session, with House Speaker Jon Burns citing the need for time and public input.

Burns told Kemp that “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,” and he said “we will not be taking up congressional or legislative redistricting for the 2028 election cycle during this special session.”

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The decision came hours before the special session was scheduled to begin on June 17, and it followed Kemp’s call for new legislative maps ahead of the 2028 election.

The dispute was framed against a Supreme Court ruling in April that weakened Voting Rights Act protections for Black and Latino voters, with the high court voting 6 to 3 to strike down a Black majority congressional district in Louisiana.

In a separate statement, Kemp said, “I do not believe there is reason to delay the apportionment process, especially with the legislature already convening.”

Democrats and voting rights groups pushed back on the redistricting effort, and the decision was described as a retreat from a proposal that threatened to ignite one of Georgia’s most explosive political fights ahead of the November election.

CNN reported that demonstrators filled the Georgia Capitol with chants of “Black voters matter!” as Burns announced the rejection of Kemp’s call to redraw congressional and legislative districts.

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Axios said Georgia House Republicans shelved plans to redraw political maps during the special session that began Wednesday, with Burns arguing redistricting “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.”

NBC News reported that Democrats celebrated as Republicans shelved their redistricting plans, quoting a joint statement from state House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley and Senate Minority Leader Harold Jones II saying, “Racist, rigged maps are dead for now.”

The Guardian described the move as defiance of Donald Trump’s calls for widespread redistricting, quoting Burns saying, “We believe that it’s important to do things the Georgia way, responsibly, transparently, and with ample opportunity for public input.”

The pause leaves Georgia Republicans signaling they could revisit redistricting ahead of the 2028 election cycle, while Kemp had asked lawmakers to consider new congressional and state legislative lines ahead of 2028 after the Supreme Court decision.

NBC News said Republican state Senate President Pro Tempore Larry Walker III argued that “any changes to our current congressional or legislative districts would not go into effect until 2028,” and he said it was “prudent to take the appropriate and necessary time to do this important duty the right way and not to rush through it.”

CNN tied the stakes to the Voting Rights Act decision in Louisiana v. Callais, saying Burns wanted lawmakers to take their time after the court weakened federal protections for minority voters.

The Guardian reported that Burns emphasized other matters, including the reimposition of a moratorium on gasoline taxes, a way to reduce property taxes, and a legislative change to a 2024 law that threatens to cast the legality of vote-counting machines in doubt ahead of the November election.

NBC News added that to draw new maps next year or in 2028, Republicans would need to maintain full control of state government after the 2026 midterms, with Kemp retiring and billionaire businessman Rick Jackson winning the GOP primary runoff for governor.