By Jill Nolin | Editor
We’re back today with a new column from Jay Bookman, who argues that Tuesday’s bad night for Republicans is actually a good thing for them.
And we also bring you an update on the fight for control of the state House and the outgoing governor’s decision not to call a special session to redraw Georgia’s political maps or curb executive power as Democrats take control.
House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley with members of the House Democratic Caucus celebrating their apparent win of the House majority Nov. 4, 2026. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder.
LEGISLATURE
By Ross Williams and Maya Homan
With just a handful of races left to be called a day after Tuesday’s midterm elections, Democrats appear poised to take control of the Georgia state House of Representatives, ending more than two decades of Republican control of the chamber.
Democrats needed to flip control of 10 seats to control 91 seats in the 180-member chamber, and party leaders expressed confidence they will narrowly exceed that margin when all the votes are counted.
“Georgia voters have made their voices heard, and history has been made,” said House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley of Columbus. “The Georgia House Democratic Caucus has indeed achieved this majority, and this victory represents more than just a change in the numbers.”
Congressman Mike Collins addresses supporters on Wednesday, Nov. 4 after losing his run for U.S. Senate. Collins lost to U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff by 18 percentage points. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder
COMMENTARY
By Jay Bookman
Tuesday night was a great night for the Republican Party.
I’m dead serious.
The GOP needed to be slapped across the face and told to snap out of it. It needed to be kicked in the butt, and kicked hard. The party that once liked to think of itself as the grownup party needed to be sent to its room without supper and have its car keys and phone taken away.
Well, courtesy of the American voter, that’s what it got.
Gov. Brian Kemp speaks on Sept. 3, 2026, at the state Capitol in Atlanta. Rocha/Georgia Recorder
POLITICS
By Alander Rocha
Outgoing Republican Gov. Brian Kemp announced Wednesday that he would not call a special session to push new political maps and curb the executive powers of future state leaders after the Democratic sweep in the 2026 midterms.
“The voters of our state have spoken. As long as I’m governor, we will always respect the results of secure, accessible, and fair elections, and also abide by the laws and constitution of our state,” Kemp said in a statement Wednesday morning. “I will not be calling a special session of the Georgia General Assembly in order to curtail executive branch powers or debate redistricting changes.”
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MORE FROM OUR DC BUREAU
ICYMI FROM THE RECORDER
Keisha Lance Bottoms will be Georgia’s next governor in historic win | Alander Rocha and Ariel Hart
Democrats flip statewide offices up and down the ballot in Georgia; state House is in play | Maya Homan and Jill Nolin
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