ATLANTA (AP) — As Democrats continue to gain electoral strength in the core counties of Atlanta, Georgia Republicans are implementing a new strategy: requiring most local candidates to run for office without party labels.
The Republican-majority Georgia House on Friday finalized a bill that mandates nonpartisan elections in the five most populous metro Atlanta counties, including Fulton County. This decision notably impacts local officials like Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who has been a target of Republican criticism due to her prosecution of former President Donald Trump in connection with the 2020 election.
State Senator John Albers, a Republican sponsor of the bill, argued that moving to nonpartisan elections will enhance public safety, justifying that the counties’ elected sheriffs will still run under party banners when the legislation takes effect in 2028.
“This is a bill that makes perfect sense,” Albers stated during a Senate debate. “If you’re playing politics, you’ll be against this. If you want to keep Georgians safe, you’ll be for it.”
The new measure targets a variety of local offices including district attorneys, county commissioners, and court clerks, primarily affecting jurisdictions like Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, Cobb, and Gwinnett counties, which have shifted blue in recent elections.
Democrats criticized the legislation as a tactic to manipulate election conditions, arguing that it would undermine the ability of voters to choose candidates aligned with their party preferences. Cobb County Representative Gabriel Sanchez commented, “The reason we’re putting this bill forward is because there’s a certain side that’s losing elections in these counties, so they want to hide behind a nonpartisan badge in order to win them.”
Governor Brian Kemp’s office has yet to confirm whether he will sign the bill into law. While the bill's supporters maintain it does not target Willis specifically, some Republican legislators have suggested otherwise, stating the intent is to allow voters to dismiss district attorneys perceived to prioritize partisan politics over justice.
The Georgia District Attorneys Association contends that the new law cannot alter the partisan nature of district attorneys, as they are classified as state officials, not county officials. A constitutional amendment would be required to change this, though such an amendment is unlikely due to Democratic resistance.
In a tight legislative vote, two of the 99 Republicans in the House opposed the bill, including Representative Jordan Ridley, who stressed, “If it’s good policy, then it should be statewide.”
