ATLANTA — A special session of the Georgia legislature adjourned Thursday after passing new congressional district maps. Critics of the maps predict the court that ordered the redistricting will overturn the maps.
It's a map that changes congressional districts for thousands of metro Atlanta voters yet is designed not to change at all Republican domination of the state’s congressional delegation.
"I take that obligation very, very seriously to produce plans that comply with the order," said state Rep. Rob Leverett (R-Elberton), chairman of the House Reapportionment Committee, during a debate Thursday.
Republican lawmakers said that because they created a new Black-majority congressional district – the new congressional map complies with the federal order that sent the legislature into special session.
The Republican-passed map would mostly keep intact three majority Black districts held by Democrats
- District 13, held by US Rep. David Scott
- District 4, held by US Rep. Hank Johnson
- District 5, held by US Rep. Nikema Williams.
District 6, a majority white district held by Democrat U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, shifts from her home turf in the northern suburbs to south metro and becomes a majority Black district.
District 7, held by Republican U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick and considered a “minority opportunity” district – shifts to the north and becomes a Republican-friendly district with a sizable white majority.
"Let's take this map and rip it up," urged state Rep. James Beverly (D-Macon), the House Democratic leader, to Republicans who mostly ignored him.
Democrats said Republican mapmakers worked to protect their dominance of the congressional delegation, minimizing minority voting power to prevent Democratic gains.
"That fear is a powerful motivator and absolutely applies to the motivations behind these maps being considered today," said state Rep. Teri Anulewicz (D-Smyrna) during a floor debate Thursday.
Predictably, the Republican-led state House approved the maps as Democrats fumed.
"I’m appalled because we demonstrated that we wasted taxpayer dollars," said state Rep. Derrick Jackson (D-Tyrone) after the vote. "Georgians are asking us to get it right and I believe the Republicans got it wrong this time."
Jackson belongs to an organization that was among the plaintiffs that filed the suit resulting in the special session.
Lawmakers adjourned and will stay gone until January. But some of them are likely to be in court in about two weeks as the federal judge reviews their work and decides whether the new maps are, in fact, in compliance with his order. If they aren't, Judge Steve Jones could appoint a mapmaker to replace the maps lawmakers passed Thursday.