Staff Reports
In Atlanta, the Georgia state House and Senate, both controlled by Republicans, have given the stamp of approval to new voting districts. However, the Democratic opposition claims that the proposed maps maintain racial discrimination against Black voters.
The state House voted 101-77 and the Senate voted 32-23 in favor of the new House and Senate maps, respectively. The House map will now be reviewed by the Senate, and the Senate map will go to the House for further consideration. Each chamber traditionally defers to the other’s map-drawing process, maintaining a hands-off approach.
Republicans say new Georgia voting districts comply with court ruling, but Democrats disagree https://t.co/6hZRQ5mIN9
— NewMexican, Ex-Texan (@OGrady_Texas) December 1, 2023
A special session was convened after U.S. District Judge Steve Jones ruled that Georgia’s congressional and state Senate and House districts violated federal law by diminishing Black voting power. Jones mandated the creation of additional Black-majority districts in the congressional, state Senate, and state House districts.
Republicans have not yet revealed their congressional plan but have promised to comply with Judge Jones’ order. House Speaker Jon Burns assured that their legislative plans will adhere to the terms of the mandate.
Democrats, however, are skeptical that the Republican proposals fully address the issues highlighted by Judge Jones. They anticipate that Jones may deem the plans illegal and draw his own maps. Senate Democrats argue that the Republican plans do not adequately rectify the problems identified, particularly in the suburbs south of Atlanta. In the House, Democrats contend that changes to certain districts where a coalition of different nonwhite groups have elected Democrats are still illegal.
Despite the hope among some Democrats that the new maps would shift the balance of power, the proposed Republican maps seem likely to maintain the party’s current majorities. The GOP currently holds a 33-23 advantage in the state Senate and a 102-78 majority in the House, which could see a reduction due to the creation of new Black-majority districts.
The Republican map-drawing decisions mean that two Senate Democrats who currently represent white-majority districts would now represent Black-majority districts. However, Republicans emphasized that no incumbents were pitted against each other in the redrawn districts.
The House plan, on the other hand, brings together one pair of Republicans and three pairs of Democrats, including House Minority Whip Sam Park. The Democrats’ attempt to revise the plan by moving Park to a different district was stymied by the Republican-controlled House Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee.
