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Second lawsuit filed against House Bill 369
Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson is taking Georgia to court over a new law that will remove political party labels from ballots in several metro Atlanta county races. Austin-Gatson's lawsuit follows a separate challenge filed earlier this year by DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston. FOX 5 Atlanta's Deidra Dukes reporting.
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson is taking Georgia to court over a new law that will remove political party labels from ballots in several metro Atlanta county races.
What we know:
Austin-Gatson announced Friday that she has filed a lawsuit challenging House Bill 369, becoming the second metro Atlanta district attorney to take legal action against the law.
The Republican-sponsored measure, signed by Gov. Brian Kemp earlier this year, requires district attorneys and several other county offices to be elected on a nonpartisan basis beginning in 2028.
The change applies to Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties.
DA calls law discriminatory
What they're saying:
Austin-Gatson argues the law unfairly singles out metro Atlanta counties and limits information available to voters.
"I have a duty to stand up and fight against what I believe to be unjust and racially discriminatory legislation," Austin-Gatson said during a news conference Friday.
She also argued that the law disproportionately affects counties represented by Black Democratic women serving as district attorneys.
Austin-Gatson said Gwinnett's diversity makes it particularly important for voters to have as much information as possible when choosing elected officials.
She said removing party affiliations from the ballot "attempts to lessen the choice of the people" and argued that voters deserve more information about candidates, not less.
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Gwinnett County DA files lawsuit against HB 369
Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson holds a press conference to discuss her lawsuit against Georgia House Bill 369 which removes partisan primaries for a number of elected positions in 5 counties.
Second lawsuit challenging the law
Austin-Gatson's lawsuit follows a separate challenge filed earlier this year by DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston.
PREVIOUS: Metro Atlanta district attorney sues over non-partisan elections
An attorney speaking at Friday's news conference said having multiple counties challenge the law demonstrates that the objections extend beyond DeKalb.
"You don't want to convey the message that DeKalb County is the only county that cares about this," he said. "I think it is important that others weigh in and say this hurts us too."
Supporters of House Bill 369 have argued that certain local government offices should operate independently of political parties.
Unless the law is blocked or overturned, the affected races will become nonpartisan starting with the 2028 elections.
PREVIOUS STORIES
- Kemp signs HB 369: Metro Atlanta counties face nonpartisan shift
- House Bill 369: DeKalb and Fulton DAs challenge constitutionality
- HB 369: Cobb County leaders demand Kemp veto election bill
- Metro Atlanta leaders urge veto of controversial election bill
- Georgia House passes nonpartisan election bill for metro Atlanta
- Leaders urge Kemp to veto 'discriminatory' metro election bill