Gov. Kemp calls special session to consider redistricting in Georgia

Wed, 13 May 2026 14:36:59 -0400

Gov. Brian Kemp has called a special session for the Georgia General Assembly to redraw the state’s congressional, state representative, and state senate districts.

Georgia redistricting

The executive order, signed Wednesday, directs lawmakers to convene in Atlanta beginning June 17. The session will focus on revising Georgia’s electoral boundaries in light of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais.

That ruling, which limited the use of race as a predominant factor in redistricting, has sparked a wave of map revisions across the South.

Previously, Kemp clarified that the redistricting process will not disrupt current voting. Because the 2026 election cycle is already underway and ballots have been prepared, any maps redrawn during this session will not take effect until the 2028 election cycle.

At this time, no proposed maps have been made public.

"The Supreme Court decision is clear," Josh McKoon, Georgia Republican Party Chairman, said. "That we can't have these racially gerrymandered maps anymore. They're illegal."

Emory University Political Science Professor Bernard Fraga says the new maps could leave only a handful of predominantly Black congressional districts.

"If there was an aggressive gerrymander pursued in the summer session, what that could mean is that that's the only majority black districts and only, reliably Democratic districts in the entire state," Fraga said.

One of the most apparent targets for these changes is the seat held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, which is one of the last rural majority-Black districts in the Deep South.

"I want to live in an America where we don't racially segregate voters," Josh McKoon, Georgia Republican Party Chairman, said. "And I think that's where most Americans are."

Meanwhile, Democrats say they are remaining resolute.

"We are now in a fight that we thought was over, we thought was fought in the 50s and 60s, and that's our fight," Harold Jones II, State Sen. (D) Minority Leader, said.

Manifesto triggered security scare for Raffensperger

Wed, 13 May 2026 11:20:30 -0400

A day after a threat postponed a campaign event for Brad Raffensperger’s gubernatorial campaign, a spokesperson now says a four-page handwritten manifesto was mailed to a sheriff's office in Mississippi before the scheduled event.

Violent manifesto targeting Raffensperger

The document is described as incoherent and disjointed, featuring a picture of Raffensperger with the word "BOOM" written across his forehead.

Raffensperger, who has faced hundreds of threats since the 2020 election, also received a new email containing vulgarities on Wednesday.

Identifying the threat actor

Law enforcement officials confirmed Wednesday that they know the identity of the person who mailed the document, but authorities have not yet released the individual's name or announced any formal charges.

It is also unclear if the person responsible for the manifesto is linked to the bomb threat in Macon or the threatening email sent on Wednesday.

Macon airport threat

The campaign first learned of the "credible" manifesto on Monday. On Tuesday, the secretary was participating in a flyover in Macon when a bomb threat was reported at the airport.

K-9 units initially hit on a suspicious device at the Macon Airport during the Tuesday investigation. Authorities later determined the device was harmless, but the incident remains part of the broader security probe.

Raffensperger speaks out against political violence

During a news conference, the secretary of state said threats tied to his office and campaign have become an unfortunate reality since the 2020 election, but he insisted this week that he will continue moving forward despite the incident at the Macon airport on Tuesday.

"Political violence and threats of political violence have no place in America," Raffensperger said. "I think our Founders would be ashamed of the behavior of some people and their actions and their words."

Raffensperger said the threat did not change his plans or campaign schedule.

"No matter what happens, I push forward," he said. "I don’t deviate and I don’t back down and I’m going to stand for Georgia no matter what."

Raffensperber described the security response on Tuesday involving Georgia State Patrol bomb detection dogs. He said the dogs reacted to something near a vending machine at an airport terminal, forcing officials to move the press conference area outside onto the tarmac.

When asked whether the manifesto specifically explained why he was targeted, Raffensperger said he could not make much sense of it and deferred further details to investigators.

"Law enforcement has it and they’re taking a look at it and they’re out there doing the job that they need to do," Raffensperger said of the manifesto and related materials.

The secretary of state acknowledged that threats against him intensified after the 2020 election and continued into 2021 and 2022 through text messages, emails and other communications directed at his office.

"I believe that you follow the law, follow the Constitution," Raffensperger said. "At the end of the day, it’s all about doing your job, no matter what."

He also defended Georgia’s handling of election lawsuits over the past several years, saying the state has consistently prevailed in court challenges because officials relied on facts and existing law.

Raffensperger suggested his refusal to back down politically may be one reason he continues to receive threats.

"I think I’ve shown that I don’t back down. I do the right thing," he said.

‘Safety remains a high priority’

Before the news conference on Wednesday, Raffensperger's campaign released a statement saying,

"Multiple law enforcement agencies are aggressively pursuing all leads and Secretary Raffensperger’s safety remains a high priority," the spokesperson said. "Let me be clear: Brad Raffensperger will not be intimidated or deterred. The campaign will continue in full force."

Officials stated they cannot release the manifesto while the investigation is active. At this time, the motivation surrounding the document is unknown.

Following the postponement of the Macon event, Raffensperger went on to hold an event in DeKalb County at the PDK airport.

Raffensperger gained national attention after the 2020 election when President Donald Trump called and asked him to "find" enough votes to overturn Joe Biden’s win in the state’s presidential election.

"All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have," Trump said during that call. "Because we won the state."

Raffensperger maintained that the claims of fraud were false and proceeded to certify the election, which saw President Biden win Georgia.

Other election issues

Separate from the threat investigation, Raffensperger also addressed several ongoing election administration issues ahead of upcoming voting cycles.

He said his office is continuing to review Georgia election laws "piece by piece" and "word by word" while preparing for the November elections.

Raffensperger criticized state lawmakers for not fully funding election-related costs over multiple legislative sessions and said counties may ultimately shoulder some of those expenses.

He also reiterated that Georgia officials plan to continue verifying citizenship, maintaining voter rolls and enforcing state requirements aimed at keeping Election Day lines under one hour.

"We will follow the law," Raffensperger said. "It’ll be free, fair and fast."

Impact of political violence

The threats highlight the ongoing risks faced by election officials and political candidates in Georgia. Raffensperger stated that while he continues to do his job, the current political climate often leads to behavior many described as "deranged and sick."

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