By Jill Nolin | Editor
“Like, ‘Hey, you guys, you’re going to take a really big political risk here at this time. Elections are in November. Do you really want to poke the bear to get more Black voters out if you pass a map that attacks their representation?’” - State Sen. Nikki Merritt, a Grayson Democrat who leads the state’s Black legislative caucus.
Sens. Sally Harrell and Michael “Doc” Rhett, who are both Democrats, look at redistricting maps in December 2023. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder
REDISTRICTING
By Ross Williams
What’s supposed to be a once-a-decade event is about to happen for the third time in Georgia since 2020, and the results could shape state politics for years.
The Georgia Legislature is set to gavel in for a special legislative session Wednesday immediately on the heels of Tuesday’s runoff election, in part to redraw its boundaries for Congressional and state legislative elections following a U.S. Supreme Court decision undoing a key part of the Voting Rights Act. The new boundaries are set to go into effect for the 2028 election.
Gov. Brian Kemp and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones take questions from reporters at a press conference on June 15, 2026, in northwest Atlanta to discuss Kemp’s endorsement of Jones ahead of the June 16 primary runoff elections. Alander Rocha/Georgia Recorder
2026 PRIMARY ELECTION
By Alander Rocha
Candidates running for their party tickets in Tuesday’s runoff election made their last-ditch campaign efforts over the weekend and on Monday.
Gov. Brian Kemp had a particularly busy Monday, when he campaigned both for Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the governor’s race and former football coach Derek Dooley in the U.S. Senate race, and stood firm on his argument of backing a candidate based on electability. Jones is facing wealthy businessman Rick Jackson and Dooley is going up against firebrand Congressman Mike Collins.
Voters walk into an early voting location at the DeKalb County Public Library in Ellenwood, Ga. on May 14, 2026. Alander Rocha/Georgia Recorder
2026 PRIMARY ELECTION
By Ross Williams
Georgians will be returning to their polling places Tuesday to finish the job they started last month of selecting candidates to face off in the Nov. 3 general election.
The first round of voting saw a few decisive victories, but some pretty big races didn’t achieve an outright win, which has meant four more weeks of fierce campaigning.
2026 PRIMARY ELECTION
By Georgia Recorder staff
There's plenty of action on the Republican ballot, with runoffs for the two highest races, governor and U.S. senate.
Democrats have some important decisions to make as well, with runoffs for important positions including lieutenant governor and secretary of state.
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