Federal Judge orders Georgia to redraw district lines to ensure Black representation

A federal judge’s ruling on Thursday has mandated the redrawing of Georgia’s district lines to guarantee adequate representation of Black voters in both Congress and the General Assembly. The judge found that the state’s maps had unlawfully weakened the political power of Black voters. This decision could potentially lead to the election of additional Black representatives in the upcoming year, with Democrats aiming to secure a new seat in the U.S. House, where Republicans currently hold a 222-212 majority and control nine out of 14 Georgia congressional seats. Prior to the General Assembly’s 2021 redistricting, the GOP held an 8-6 advantage in Georgia.

U.S. District Judge Steve Jones concluded that the Republican-controlled General Assembly had violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prohibits racial discrimination in elections. His order requires legislators to establish an additional congressional district with a Black majority in west metro Atlanta by December 8. The ruling also necessitates the creation of two more state Senate districts and five more state House districts with Black majorities in the Atlanta and Macon areas.

Following the ruling, Governor Brian Kemp called for a special session on November 29, during which lawmakers will return to Atlanta to redraw the state’s political districts. Judge Jones stated, “Georgia has made great strides since 1965 towards equality in voting. However, the evidence before this court shows that Georgia has not reached the point where the political process has equal openness and equal opportunity for everyone.”

U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, chairwoman of the Georgia Democratic Party, praised the ruling as a “resounding victory” for democracy, while Josh McKoon, chairman of the Georgia Republican Party, criticized Jones as a “partisan Democrat ally.”

Black voters in Georgia played a significant role in the state’s population growth, accounting for nearly half of the over 1 million new residents during the past decade. Despite this, the way districts were shaped resulted in Democrats losing a congressional seat during the previous year’s elections, with Black voters predominantly supporting Democrats and most white voters backing Republicans.

Bishop Reginald T. Jackson, a key figure in the redistricting trial, called the judge’s order a “long march to justice.” He emphasized the ongoing importance of fighting for the right to vote and democracy.

Georgia is expected to appeal the ruling, but the U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld the Voting Rights Act in June, and a federal court selected a new congressional map for Alabama this month that adds a second district with a substantial portion of Black voters.

During the trial, Georgia argued that its political maps were based on partisanship rather than race, while the plaintiffs contended that the General Assembly had denied opportunities for Black voters during redistricting. The shifting of boundaries in the 6th Congressional District was a point of contention, leading to the election of a Republican representative.

Redistricting battles are taking place in courts across the United States, including in the Southern states of Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina.