As more southern states hop on the redistricting train after the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down race-based redistricting, Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) is facing increasing pressure to push back Georgia‘s congressional primaries and redraw the state’s map.
Kemp announced last Friday that he would not pursue a redraw of the state’s congressional map, one day after the Supreme Court made its decision in Louisiana v. Callais. Kemp expressed support for the high court’s ruling, but argued that “voting is already underway for the 2026 elections” and vowed to install new maps for the 2028 elections.
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Early voting for the state’s primaries began last Monday, as all 14 congressional seats, one Senate seat, and the state’s gubernatorial seat are up for election. But the Georgia GOP is not backing down from its redistricting pressure on Kemp, especially as nearby southern states like Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Florida have all pushed to redraw in the wake of Louisiana v. Callais.
Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon is the latest Peach State GOP heavy-hitter calling on Kemp to drop his opposition to a 2026 redraw and suspend the congressional primary elections to do so.
“I have the utmost respect for the governor,” McKoon told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “But from our standpoint, we have a Supreme Court decision that tells us these racially constructed districts aren’t required, and they aren’t lawful. And we need to correct them as soon as possible.”
Kemp’s counterpart in Louisiana, Gov. Jeff Landry (R-LA), announced last week that he would suspend the state’s congressional elections, which were set for May 16, while moving ahead with the rest of the state elections and a redistricting plan.
In Tennessee, the state legislature is seeking to push through a new congressional map in 2026, though they also face an uphill battle to install the new lines before the state’s August 6 primary elections.
McKoon joins Georgia Republicans like Senate candidates Buddy Carter (R-GA) and Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA), as well as gubernatorial candidates Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (R-GA) and businessman Rick Jackson, in calling on Kemp to act as soon as possible.
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With record early voter turnout, Kemp would have to act fast ahead of the May 19 general primary election if he changes his mind on a 2026 redraw.
“It’s clear that Callais requires Georgia to adopt new electoral maps before the 2028 election cycle,” Kemp had said on May 1.
