A federal judge in Georgia recently ruled to approve the new congressional map created by the Republican party to maintain their rule in the state.
Announced on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Steve Jones’ latest decision maintained that the newly drawn maps are in accordance with the previous court order that new majority-Black voting districts need to be created.
In October, he ruled that the maps that existed in 2021 harmed Black voters in the state, ordering that the congressional map be re-drawn. Earlier this month, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed the new map into law after the General Assembly convened to re-draw the districts.
Although the newest map added new majority-Black districts, specifically in west Atlanta, it maintains GOP control of the state as it targets areas such as the Democratic 7th district led by Rep. Lucy McBath by placing it into Republican territory.
With the latest decision, it’s expected that the redrawn maps would replicate the 9-5 Republican congressional majority in Georgia and would constitute a 32-23 GOP Senate majority.
“Georgia Democrats fought hard for maps that would ensure Black voters had a fair chance to make their voices heard, but Republicans once again played partisan games with redistricting,” said the Democratic Party of Georgia Executive Director Kevin Olasanoye per a statement following the latest judicial decision. “While we respect the ruling, we are more committed than ever to ending Republicans’ days of diluting minority voting power via gerrymandering.”
“Voter protection and empowerment is at the heart of Georgia Democrats’ mission, and we will fight harder than ever to ensure that every Georgia voter can make their voice heard in our democracy,” he added.
Judge Jones’ latest decision comes days after a federal lawsuit was filed by Common Cause and the NAACP, alleging that the Republican majority in the North Carolina state legislature also drew a map intended to silence Black voters.
The lawsuit alleges that, with the maps, the dilution violates the Voting Rights Act and undermines the Black electoral power, targeting votes in North Carolina’s Black Belt.
According to the NAACP, the GOP rushed the process of re-drawing the maps, denying accurate representation of Black voters when doing so.
“Lawmakers know what they are doing. They are eroding the power of Black voters – power that was fought for over decades of violent discrimination and suffering,” said Deborah Maxwell, President of the NAACP North Carolina division, Deborah Maxwell, per a statement .”Today, the NAACP stands defiant and proud with its partners, knowing that the will of the people cannot be defeated by the racist tactics of a few politicians.”
