Controversy Surrounds New Georgia Election Law
Fulton County Democratic District Attorney Fani Willis, who previously sought to imprison former President Donald Trump, has recently taken to the public stage again, making claims of racism and portraying herself as a victim of her adversaries.
In a move that has upset Democratic Party officials—and some of their supporters—Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed into law a bill that mandates nonpartisan elections for specific roles in the state’s five most populated counties, starting January 1, 2028. This bill includes counties like Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb, and Clayton.
The law stipulates that candidates for county governing positions, tax commissioners, superior court clerks, and attorney general must run in nonpartisan elections, although county sheriffs will remain exempt from this requirement.
What’s more, under this new law, district attorney candidates won’t be nominated by political parties or through petitions anymore, and candidates may choose to bypass the nonpartisan primary altogether, participating only in the general election.
During the legislative discussions in March, House Minority Leader Chuck Efstration expressed that the legal opinions he received deemed the bill constitutional. He argued that it aims to treat local offices similar to how judicial roles are categorized, thereby reducing partisanship in bringing essential local services to communities.
“When you enter the courthouse, you don’t see divisions between Republicans and Democrats,” Efstration added during the debate.
Republican Representative Trey Kelly emphasized that the law offers voters a means to remove a district attorney who prioritizes partisan politics over justice.
Yet, Democrats have voiced concerns that this legislation could lead to voters focusing on individual candidates rather than party affiliation when electing law clerks. Willis, in particular, referred to the law as “racist, sexist, and overtly unconstitutional.” She indicated that the bill is likely “racist” because it notably affects the five district attorneys who are black women Democrats.
Willis stated, “House Bill 369 is clearly unconstitutional, and we are appalled by Governor Kemp’s decision to pass it. This blatantly gives Republicans an edge in Democratic populations by obscuring their party identities from voters.” This sentiment was echoed in a joint statement with DeKalb County Prosecutor Sherry Boston, who also pointed to a perceived bias against voters in their counties.
Both Democrats pledged to challenge this legislation in court, arguing that taxpayers would have to defend it legally. Meanwhile, Charlie Bailey, chair of the Georgia Democratic Party, previously suggested that the aim of the law is to enable Republicans to mask their affiliations, thereby deceiving voters against the elected black women district attorneys it primarily targets.
In other news affecting Georgia Democrats, Governor Kemp announced that state legislators would reconvene on June 17 to redraw congressional maps for 2028. Presently, Republicans hold nine out of Georgia’s 14 congressional districts, and potential redistricting could further solidify their power, especially in light of recent Supreme Court rulings on gerrymandering.
