Saira Draper (HD-90) (D) said in a Sept. 18 post on her campaign website that House Speaker Jon Burns (HD-159) (R) pledged in June that the state would hold public hearings before any redrawing of Georgia’s political maps, and that none have been scheduled.
Draper, an election lawyer running for the open Senate District 44 seat, expects Burns to push new maps through the Republican-led legislature without public input if gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) wins. “Any promises of halting for pending litigation or transparency will be out the window,” she said.
Bentley Hudgins (HD-90) (D) and Samantha Boston (HD-90) (R) are running for Draper’s House seat. In the Senate, Draper faces Ngozi Orabueze (SD-44) (R) for the seat Elena Parent (SD-44) (D) is leaving.
Both seats went unopposed in 2024. This year, Republicans are contesting both. The last Republican to run for the House seat, in 2022, drew 6.5% against Draper. Through July 31, Hudgins had raised about $100,000 and Boston about $1,800.
