Metro Atlanta Leaders Oppose Bill Changing Local Elections

Supporters say the measure aims to take politics out of local governments, but officials argue it unfairly targets certain counties.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 4:56pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A dynamic, abstract painting featuring overlapping, geometric shapes and waves of blue, red, and grey, conceptually representing the turbulent political forces surrounding local election reforms.A fractured, avant-garde painting captures the chaotic political forces at play in this local election reform debate.Atlanta Today

Leaders in five metro Atlanta counties are urging Georgia Governor Brian Kemp to veto legislation that would make most elected offices in those counties non-partisan. Supporters of the measure say it is an effort to take politics out of local governments, but some local officials are pushing back, arguing the proposal does not apply equally across the state and that any changes to the constitution should be done through voter approval.

Why it matters

This bill is seen as a partisan attempt to reshape local governance in key Democratic-leaning counties around Atlanta, raising concerns about fair elections and the balance of power in Georgia politics.

The details

The proposed legislation would make most elected offices in Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, and Clayton counties non-partisan, removing party affiliations from local ballots. Cobb County District Attorney Sonya Allen argues the measure is unconstitutional and should apply equally to all 159 counties in the state, not just target certain urban areas. DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran Johnson also questioned the bill's intent, asking why it focuses on just five counties if the goal is truly about fairness and election integrity.

  • The bill was introduced in the Georgia legislature in early 2026.

The players

Brian Kemp

The Governor of Georgia who will decide whether to sign the bill into law.

Sonya Allen

The Cobb County District Attorney who plans to join a legal challenge if the governor signs the bill.

Lorraine Cochran Johnson

The DeKalb County CEO who questioned the bill's intent and fairness.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“If that is the case then it should apply equally to all counties, all 159 counties, all 51 judicial circuits; it should apply equally and fairly to everyone and not make a disproportionate impact to certain urban counties.”

— Sonya Allen, Cobb County District Attorney

“If fairness and election integrity is truly the goal, why does this bill target 5 counties and not all 159 across the entire state of Georgia”

— Lorraine Cochran Johnson, DeKalb County CEO

What’s next

Leaders say legal challenges will follow if the bill is signed into law by Governor Kemp.

The takeaway

This partisan bill to reshape local elections in key Democratic-leaning counties around Atlanta raises serious concerns about fair representation and the balance of power in Georgia politics. The unequal application of the measure across the state suggests it may be an attempt to unfairly target certain urban areas.