By Jill Nolin | Editor
We have lots to share with you today, so let’s get right to it.
Senate President Pro Tempore Larry Walker joined by House Speaker Jon Burns for a press conference where Burns announced Republicans would not pursue redistricting efforts during the special session on June 17, 2026, in the state Capitol in Atlanta. Alander Rocha/Georgia Recorder
REDISTRICTING
By Maya Homan and Alander Rocha
Georgia Republicans abruptly changed course on redistricting Wednesday, retreating from their plans to redraw congressional and state district lines for the 2028 election less than an hour before lawmakers gaveled in for the special session.
In a joint press conference Wednesday, House Speaker Jon Burns, a Newington Republican, and Senate President Pro Tem Larry Walker III, a Perry Republican, told a boisterous crowd that they planned to focus on securing property tax relief and ratifying last month’s gas tax suspension rather than redistricting. Lawmakers must also address a July 1 deadline for QR codes to be removed from Georgia’s ballots.
“As we convene today, the Georgia House Republicans are focused on Georgia’s future and the issues that really matter to our neighbors across this state, not partisan gain,” Burns said.
Georgia voters have now chosen their nominees for statewide races up and down the ballot. Credit: Justin Taylor/The Current GA
2026 ELECTION
By Ellie Fivas
As Georgians headed to the polls on Tuesday, voters were doing more than just determining Republican nominees for the top of the ticket — both parties also decided nominations for key down-ballot primary races.
Democrats and Republican voters returned to choose their nominees for lieutenant governor and secretary of state. Republican voters also had to settle the race for Public Service Commission District 5 and state school superintendent. Democrats chose between the top two candidates for both labor and insurance commissioners.
These nominees are now turning their focus to the general election in November.
A pair of competitive races at the top of the Republican ballot drove up GOP turnout, causing a surprisingly close race for a Gwinnett County state Senate seat. Alander Rocha/Georgia Recorder
2026 ELECTION
By Jill Nolin
Democrats pulled off a win in a special election to fill the remainder of a former Democratic state senator’s term in a race that turned out tighter than expected.
Sen. Nabilah Parkes of Duluth stepped down from her seat to focus on a failed run for lieutenant governor earlier this year.
In the run-up to Election Day on Tuesday, Democrats had been alarmed by the strong GOP turnout statewide for the then-unresolved U.S. Senate and governor races, which seemed to give the Republican candidate, real estate broker Aizaz Shaikh, an edge.
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ICYMI FROM THE RECORDER
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