New Georgia Senate map adds two Black districts while maintaining partisan balance
Senators unveil new map ahead of special session
Georgia Republican state senators unveiled a new map that creates two new majority-Black districts while insulating their most vulnerable incumbents.
U.S. District Judge Steve Jones last month determined that the state’s current maps, which were enacted in 2021, diluted the voting strength of Black Georgians and is ordering lawmakers to craft new maps in compliance with the landmark Voting Rights Act.
The Senate map, which was unveiled Monday, seeks to comply with Judge Jones’ order to create two new majority-Black districts by dismantling two majority-white districts in the Atlanta area that are currently held by Democrats. It is an effort that will leave the chamber’s partisan balance unchanged.
In DeKalb County, state Sen. Elena Parent (D-Atlanta), who is white, now finds herself in a district where African-Americans make up more than half of the population. State Sen. Jason Esteves (D-Atlanta) also sees the Black population increase in his North Atlanta district.
Neither Parent nor Esteves could be immediately reached for comment.
The new map protects all Republican incumbents, including those who were believed to be vulnerable as lawmakers draw up new maps.
In Henry County, Senate Republicans created a new majority-Black district, but they did not throw state Sen. Brian Strickland (R-McDonough) overboard in order to do it.
And Republicans dismantled Esteves’ district to make way for a new majority-Black district that takes in parts of Cobb, Douglas and South Fulton counties.
The new map would maintain the chamber’s current breakdown of 33 Republicans and 23 Democrats. But whether or not it meets the guidelines set by Judge Jones remains to be seen.
Lawmakers will take up redistricting during a special session this week.