Georgia Governor Calls Special Session to Redraw State’s Congressional Maps

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed a proclamation on May 13 that ordered state lawmakers to attend a special session focused on redrawing maps for congressional districts.

The Republican’s proclamation on Wednesday will require the state’s General Assembly to convene on June 17 and “consider enacting, revisiting, repealing or amending general law for the division of the State into appropriate districts.”

Any changes to the current map would take effect in the 2028 election cycle, not the upcoming midterms, according to the proclamation.

Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) promised to push back on his state’s attempt to redistrict.

“We just learned that Georgia is moving forward with gerrymandering for 2028,” Warnock wrote on X.

“There is an extreme movement in this country that will stop at nothing to hold on to power, even if it means stripping representation away from millions. I will fight this with everything I have.”

Georgia is the latest state to pursue redistricting efforts after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on April 29 that race could not be used as the primary factor when drawing boundaries for electoral districts.

The South Carolina Senate voted against extending its current session, which could have provided a pathway to redraw the congressional map.

Five Republicans sided with all Democrats to not extend the current session, but their vote may not officially close the chapter on redistricting.

Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican, could follow the footsteps of other governors in the United States and call a special session to consider redistricting, an idea supported by South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette.

“We have both the duty and the opportunity to maximize our conservative stronghold and ensure our people receive the representation they deserve, grounded in faith, freedom, family values, safe communities, and economic prosperity,” Evette said while speaking to a state House subcommittee on May 12.

President Donald Trump, who has urged his party to keep the House and Senate after the midterms in the fall, has supported Republican efforts to redistrict as soon as possible.

Jackson Richman contributed to this report.