Politics
Georgia’s post-election session could put congressional maps and governor’s powers in play
Gov. Brian Kemp could call lawmakers back to Atlanta after the Nov. 3 election, giving Republicans a chance to redraw congressional districts and, if Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms wins, consider limits on the incoming governor. Neither move has been confirmed, and GOP leaders have offered little indication of their plans.
Georgia Republicans could use a special legislative session after the Nov. 3 governor’s election to redraw the state’s congressional map — and potentially curb the authority of a new Democratic governor before that person takes office.
Gov. Brian Kemp has the power to call lawmakers back to the Capitol, but he has not said whether he will do so. Republican legislative leaders have also kept their plans close, leaving both possibilities uncertain.
The map fight could put a majority-Black congressional district at risk. Republicans have long sought to reshape the district, and a post-election session could give them another opportunity to do so. The stakes would rise if Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms defeats the Republican nominee: Kemp would remain governor until his term ends and could sign legislation passed before the next governor takes office.
State Rep. Saira Draper, an Atlanta Democrat, has warned that redrawing districts after voters choose a governor would undermine voters’ power and could signal an unwillingness to accept the election’s outcome. Democrats are preparing for a possible partisan fight, while Republican leaders have not publicly committed to either a map redraw or restrictions on the next governor.
House Speaker Jon Burns’ spokesperson said Burns was focused on the election and did not elaborate on possible post-election plans. Kemp has likewise given no public indication that he intends to summon lawmakers back to the Gold Dome.
The debate over the governor’s authority could extend beyond redistricting. Possible areas of legislative action include appointments, the state budget and the filling of vacancies, though no specific package has been announced. Georgia constitutional law provides substantial protections for the governor’s powers, according to University of Georgia law professor Anthony Kreis, but lawmakers also have statutory powers they could revise.
Other states have seen lawmakers act after a change in party control. In North Carolina, Republican lawmakers moved to limit Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s authority after his election; Wisconsin Republicans took similar steps after Democrat Tony Evers won. Those examples have added to speculation about what Georgia Republicans might attempt if Bottoms wins.
Georgia voters will decide the governor’s race on Nov. 3. Until Kemp or legislative leaders make their intentions clear, a special session — and any effort to change district lines or the next governor’s powers — remains a possibility, not a settled plan.