FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 29, 2026

CONTACT: press@keishaforgovernor.com

Bottoms Statement on GOP Legislators Changing Election Rules to Target 5 Democratic-Leaning Counties, Weaken Georgia’s Executive Branch

Bottoms: ‘Republican Legislators are Once Again Playing Games with Democracy Because They are Worried Georgia is Moving on Without Them’

ATLANTA — Today, Keisha Lance Bottoms released the following statement after Georgia’s Republican legislators pushed through legislation that would change election rules for offices that are currently held by Democratic officials and give the legislature more power over state agency decisions.

Republicans in the legislature passed a bill that would remove partisan labels from district attorney, county commissioner and tax commissioner races in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties starting in 2028. All district attorney positions in these counties are currently held by Democratic officials and the majority of these counties’ commissioner offices are also held by Democrats.

Republican legislators also passed a bill that would allow the legislature to overturn any state agency rule with a simple majority vote — reducing the current number of votes needed down from two-thirds of the legislature.

“Georgia Republicans are not trying to win fair and square — they are trying to rig the system after voters have already rejected their agenda in communities across metro Atlanta. Stripping party labels from races they keep losing and grabbing more power for themselves is a blatant political maneuver by politicians who are afraid of the people they’re supposed to serve. This is exactly the kind of system-rigging that voters despise and reject, and Governor Kemp should veto it.

“Georgia is the cradle of the Civil Rights Movement, so we know what it looks like when politicians try to change the rules to weaken the voices of voters they do not like. Instead of lowering costs, expanding opportunity, and protecting health care, Republican legislators are once again playing games with democracy because they are worried Georgia is moving on without them. Georgians see through it.

“A warning to Republicans: Every time you try to undermine voters, manipulate elections, or tilt the rules to protect your own power, you do not discourage us — you energize us. These cynical moves will only fire up Democrats, sharpen the stakes, and drive even stronger Democratic turnout in November. These bills will not save Republicans from the voters. They will only remind Georgians exactly why change is needed — and why Democrats will be more energized than ever to show up and win in November.”

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