Fani Willis is going to court, again. The Fulton County District Attorney vowed Wednesday to sue over a new Georgia law that makes district attorney and solicitor general races nonpartisan in metro Atlanta's largest counties. Gov. Brian Kemp signed the bill hours earlier at the state Capitol, flanked by Republican legislative leaders.
WABE reported Willis called the law an unconstitutional attack on Black voters and Black elected officials, particularly in Fulton and DeKalb counties where Black Democratic prosecutors have won contested races in recent cycles. The bill removes party labels from prosecutor races in counties with populations over 700,000, which currently includes Fulton, Gwinnett, and Cobb. DeKalb DA Sherry Boston echoed Willis, telling WSB-TV she will fight the new law as well.
The partisan split on the bill tracks the broader battle over elections in Georgia. Republican sponsors say nonpartisan races produce better candidates by forcing voters to evaluate qualifications rather than party affiliation. Democratic opponents say the timing and scope make the intent clear: the law targets specific officeholders who have clashed with Republican leadership, and it lands in counties with significant Black populations where Democratic prosecutors have won competitive races.
For Atlanta voters, the change takes effect with the next election cycle. Prosecutor races in Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, and Cobb will no longer show party labels on the ballot, which means voters who rely on party identification as a shortcut will need to do more homework. Willis has not yet filed her lawsuit, but her Wednesday statement made clear she will bring the legal challenge before the law takes effect.
