ATLANTA — A GOP-led redistricting panel voted to approve a new congressional map Monday over the objections of Democrats, who say the new map doesn’t comply with a court order.
Although a federal judge ordered lawmakers to create a new Black majority congressional district, the new Republican map wouldn’t add any Democratic seats and would further protect a Republican one. Polls show Black voters tend to support Democrats; white voters tend to support the GOP.
The new congressional map focuses on metro Atlanta. Republican lawmakers who made it admit they drew it, in part, to retain their current majority in Congress.
That admission ultimately drew some objections from the public.
"These maps are built on partisan breakdowns. They’re not built on community interest," Stephanie Ali of the New Georgia Project told the Senate reapportionment committee Monday.
"Let’s draw maps in a way that reflects what the voters of Georgia want and need," said Cindy Battles of the Georgia Coalition for the Peoples Agenda.
As drawn by Republicans, Georgia’s fourth, fifth and thirteenth districts – held by Democratic congress members David Scott, Hank Johnson and Nikema Williams – would not change much demographically.
The sixth district, a majority white district held by Democrat Lucy McBath, shifts away from her home in the northern suburbs to the south metro and becomes a majority black district.
The seventh district, held by Republican Rich McCormick and considered a tossup district – shifts to the north and becomes a substantially white-majority district.
"We have eliminated a minority opportunity district, which goes completely against the judge’s order. That’s the principal reason why I’ll be against this particular map," said state Sen. Harold Jones II (D-Augusta) during the hearing.
The reapportionment committee approved the map on a party-line vote. Outside of the room, a Democratic candidate who hopes to run for Congress predicted a court would throw out the new map.
"It’s just gerrymandering in another form. And we’re not necessarily accomplishing the spirit of the matter," said Jerica Richardson, a Cobb County commissioner.