Georgia Republicans Scrap Current Plans To Redistrict Ahead Of 2028

Georgia Republicans nixed their plans to redraw 2028 congressional maps this summer, a clear sign they see the issue as a political vulnerability ahead of marquee statewide races this fall.

Republican leaders of the state House sent a letter Wednesday to GOP Gov. Brian Kemp, announcing their decision. The reversal is a major blow for Kemp, who was pushing for a redraw to shore up Republican gains in the state that could help the party maintain control of Congress long term.

Wednesday’s decision is not the end of potential redistricting in the state. Republicans could redraw for 2028 in January, as long as they maintain control of state government after November. And they may face intense pressure to do so, given the GOP’s push to redistrict in as many places as possible to shore up a House majority.

But by skipping on redrawing lines now, Republicans could lose the opportunity to do so in the future — with the open-seat governor race to replace Kemp expected to be competitive.

“When the House learned that it was placed on the call for a special session, we knew it was not the right path forward for our state at this time,” state House Speaker Jon Burns said during a press conference Wednesday after he and others sent the letter. “We believe that it's important to do things the Georgia way, responsibly, transparently and with ample opportunity for the public."

Burns said his conference was more focused on “issues that really matter to our neighbors across this state,” like driving down the cost of living in Georgia — “not partisan gain.”

The decision Wednesday is yet another ding in Kemp’s political armor as he tried to flex his kingmaking influence before leaving office next year. On Tuesday, his preferred candidates for Senate and governor both fell to their primary challengers. Now, state lawmakers have all but ignored his request to redraw the state’s legislative maps.

In a statement, the governor reaffirmed his belief that Georgia's congressional maps were “drawn intentionally to create majority-minority districts, a practice which has now been deemed unconstitutional.” But he acknowledged that the decision to change the maps ultimately rests with state lawmakers.

“I do not believe there is reason to delay the apportionment process, especially with the legislature already convening. Legislative districting, however, is the responsibility of the General Assembly, and it is within their discretion to defer the issue until a later date," Kemp said.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was first to report on the legislature’s reversal Wednesday.

Kemp in May had announced his decision to call state legislators into a special session to address the state’s congressional boundaries, and set the convening date for the Wednesday immediately following the state’s contentious primary election runoffs. Kemp had already bucked the White House’s push for a redraw ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, but he left 2028 on the table.

Calls for redistricting have riled the state’s high-profile primaries for Senate and governor, with the Republican candidates pressing Georgia officials to redraw their congressional boundaries as they tried to court President Donald Trump’s endorsement.

Across the country, 10 states have enacted new maps ahead of the midterms, with others already taking steps to redraw in 2028. The plan — which has been pushed by Trump and his top advisers — has led to an overall gain for the GOP.

With Georgia’s elections already underway when the Supreme Court issued its ruling gutting a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, 2028 was the most realistic option for Republicans to jam through a new map.

Many Republicans wanted the state to act now, given the risk that Democrats could soon control the governorship or legislature and thwart any hopes of creating new red-leaning seats for Republicans.

But state House leaders said it was still unclear exactly how the VRA ruling will be interpreted, citing pending litigation in the state, making them uncertain of how to proceed with a redraw now.