Brian Kemp rebuffs calls to redistrict Georgia map and curtail Keisha Lance Bottoms’s powers

Outgoing Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) has ruled out calling a special legislative session to redraw Georgia’s congressional maps, saying he will respect the results of Tuesday’s election after Democrats captured the governor’s mansion.The decision curbs efforts by Georgia Republicans to redraw congressional districts before the 2028 elections, as Kemp prepares to leave office and Democratic successor Keisha Lance Bottoms is set to take over after a historic win Tuesday.The Associated Press called the gubernatorial race for Bottoms, a former Atlanta Mayor, at 9:24 p.m. Tuesday. Bottoms defeated Republican businessman Rick Jackson, winning 54.3% of the vote to Jackson’s 45.7%. Kemp said the election results would guide his decision not to bring lawmakers back to Atlanta to revisit the state’s political boundaries.“The voters of our state have spoken. As long as I’m governor, we will always respect the results of secure, accessible, and fair elections, and also abide by the laws and constitution of our state,” Kemp told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.“I will not be calling a special session of the Georgia General Assembly in order to curtail executive branch powers or debate redistricting changes.”Kemp did, however, leave open the possibility of convening a special session before the legislature’s regularly scheduled January meeting, pointing to possible budgetary matters that could require lawmakers’ attention.The announcement marks a reversal from Kemp’s earlier push to redraw Georgia’s political boundaries following the Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which weakened federal Voting Rights Act protections against racial discrimination in redistricting.Kemp had argued the ruling required Georgia to adopt new congressional and legislative maps before the 2028 election cycle. He initially called lawmakers into a special session beginning June 17 to consider the changes, saying the decision would allow states to draw maps that reflected voters’ preferences rather than federal judges’ rulings.But the effort quickly ran into resistance from Republican legislative leaders. State House Speaker Jon Burns and other GOP leaders declined to take up redistricting, citing the need for more time to study the court decision, pending litigation, and to allow public input. Senate Republican leaders also backed the decision to shelve the proposal.Bottoms had also warned that an attempt to redraw the maps on Kemp’s way out of office could backfire politically, portraying Republicans as unwilling to accept the possibility of losing power.“We are a state that has gotten things done in moderation,” Bottoms said earlier this year on the Politically Georgia podcast. “And it would be really unfortunate for them to do that on their way out of the door.”2026 MIDTERM ELECTIONS LIVE UPDATES: LATEST NEWS, RESULTS AND ANALYSISKemp’s latest announcement closes the door on another redistricting push before his term expires in January. His decision also means Republicans will have to contend with a Democratic governor when lawmakers return for the next regular legislative session.Bottoms will take office in January, succeeding Kemp, who was barred by term limits from seeking the governor’s mansion again.