The measure could complicate reelection bids for Fani Willis and other Democratic prosecutors while setting off a constitutional fight.
Gov. Brian Kemp speaks during a campaign stop in Madison Friday. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)
Gov. Brian Kemp signed a law Tuesday that makes most local races in five heavily Democratic metro Atlanta counties nonpartisan, embracing a Republican-backed effort that could boost the party’s chances in deep-blue areas while weakening one of its chief targets: Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
The law applies to district attorneys, county commissioners and other elected officials in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties beginning in 2028. The law exempts sheriffs. It’s unclear if it applies to the DeKalb County Commission.
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Gov. Brian Kemp signs House Bill 463 inside the Georgia Capitol building on Monday. (Ben Hendren for the AJC)
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Greg Bluestein is the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s chief political reporter. He is also an author, TV analyst and co-host of the Politically Georgia podcast.
