Kemp declines to convene special session to limit Bottoms' executive power

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said on Tuesday he will not summon the state legislature for a special session to reduce the executive powers of his incoming Democratic successor. Kemp issued the declaration following the election of Keisha Lance Bottoms, who defeated Republican candidate Rick Jackson to secure the governorship.

In a written statement, Kemp explicitly ruled out using a special session to address redistricting changes or limit the authority of the executive branch. "I will not be calling a special session of the Georgia General Assembly in order to curtail executive branch powers or debate redistricting changes," Kemp wrote. He added that the state's voters have made their decision clear.

Kemp emphasized his commitment to the electoral process, noting that he would respect the outcomes of secure and accessible elections. He stated that his administration would continue to follow state laws and the constitution. However, he left room for lawmakers to return before January if financial issues required their attention.

Bottoms is the first Democrat to win the Georgia gubernatorial race since 1998, according to the National Governors Association. Her victory represents a major shift in the state's political landscape. The decision to avoid a special session removes a potential tool Kemp could have used to influence the new administration before the official transfer of power.

The issue of reconvening lawmakers gained traction earlier this year when Kemp scheduled a redistricting session for June. That session was planned after the Supreme Court modified a key section of the Voting Rights Act. Kemp had urged legislators to review district divisions before 2028. He argued that the court's ruling required new maps but acknowledged that it was too late to redraw lines for the May primaries.

Republican leaders in the state House eventually paused that effort. State House Speaker Jon Burns stated that the timing was not right for the state. Burns said that changes to district maps affect every voter and require a thoughtful, fact-based process. He shared plans to hold meetings where voters could provide input on the issue.

Kemp maintained that redistricting remains the responsibility of the legislature. His refusal to call a special session now closes the option of using that mechanism to constrain Bottoms' authority during the remaining weeks of his tenure.