Metro Atlanta leaders urge veto of controversial election bill

Metro Atlanta leaders oppose 'zombie' election bill

A high-stakes political standoff is unfolding at the Georgia State Capitol as a controversial election bill heads to Gov. Brian Kemp's desk.

ATLANTA - A high-stakes political standoff is unfolding at the Georgia State Capitol as a controversial election bill heads to Gov. Brian Kemp's desk.

House Bill 369, which critics have dubbed a "zombie bill," has sparked intense backlash from leaders in Georgia's largest and most diverse counties.

A targeted shift in local elections

What we know:

The legislation would fundamentally change how residents in five specific metro Atlanta counties—Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, and Clayton—elect their local officials.

Under the bill, races for district attorney, solicitor general, county commission, and tax commissioner would transition to a nonpartisan format starting in the 2028 election cycle.

Opponents, including DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, Cobb County District Attorney Sonya Allen, and several Democratic state lawmakers, held a press conference under the Gold Dome to denounce the measure.

They argue that if nonpartisan elections are truly "best practice," they should be applied to all 159 counties across the state, rather than to a select few.

Supporters cite election integrity

What they're saying:

Republican backers of the bill maintain that the shift is a common-sense move to strip partisan politics from the justice system and local governance.

Supporters argue that removing party labels ensures that public safety and administrative efficiency remain the top priorities for elected officials, rather than party agendas.

They contend the move is a vital step in protecting the integrity and neutrality of local elections in Georgia's most populated regions.

The "Zombie Bill" controversy

The other side:

The bill's path to the governor's desk was anything but standard.

State Rep. Jasmine Clark (D-Lilburn) and others have labeled it a "zombie bill," noting that the policy originally failed as a standalone measure before being "gutted and replaced" into an unrelated bill regarding food trucks. 

Critics argue this maneuver was used to bypass public debate and skip the traditional legislative process.

What's next:

A spokesperson for Gov. Kemp's office issued a written statement to FOX 5 saying, "As with all legislation that receives final passage from the General Assembly, this bill will receive a thorough review, and we will provide an update at the conclusion of that process."

Local leaders have already signaled that, if the governor signs the bill into law, they will file an immediate legal challenge in court.