Georgia House Republicans Begin Debate on Map That Diminishes Georgians’ Voting Power

November 10, 2021

Today, Georgia House Republicans are debating their proposed State House map, just two days after releasing their last-minute proposal and providing Georgians virtually no time to offer feedback. 

House Republicans’ map minimizes the political power of voters of color and fails to fairly represent the partisan makeup of Georgia. The proposal also unnecessarily targets several Democratic incumbents by pairing them in districts with one another, laying the groundwork to force them out of office and deprive Georgia voters of the leadership they elected to represent them.

“Republicans continue to move at a dangerously rapid pace, with no regard to what Georgians want and deserve – fair maps. After considerable public feedback and advocacy from several statewide groups, it’s apparent this legislative process is lost to a partisan agenda,” said House Minority Leader James Beverly. “Georgians have been clear in their request and we will continue to fight for a map which represents the shifting population and provides fair representation to all voters.”

“Georgia House Republicans are making a mockery of the legislative process by releasing proposals at the last minute and giving the public and their peers little time to review and offer feedback. The degree to which Republicans are targeting Democratic incumbents and districts and fast-tracking the redistricting process is astounding, and it’s quickly becoming nothing more than a sham,” said Scott Hogan, Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Georgia. “Drawing new maps will have implications for Georgians’ lives over the next decade, and Georgians deserve fair maps that are not rushed over the course of just a few days.”

More about Republicans’ map:

  • The proposed map minimizes the political power of voters of color.
    • Republicans’ proposal creates one fewer opportunity district than Democrats’ plan and intentionally puts existing opportunity districts at risk, including HD 105 and HD 154, threatening the ability of voters of color to elect their candidates of choice.
    • The Republicans’ map subverts local control in Cobb County, which is majority-minority, and the will of Cobb voters by setting the stage for a GOP takeover of the Cobb County delegation.
  • The proposed map fails to fairly represent the partisan makeup of Georgia.
    • It reduces the share of the Democratic electorate in two currently Democratic districts, HD 48 and HD 105, jeopardizing the political will of those districts’ voters.
    • By carving two new districts out of Democratic metro Atlanta that are drawn for Republican advantage, HD 99 in Gwinnett County and HD 53 in Buckhead, this map diminishes the voting power of metro Atlanta voters who lean Democratic.
  • The Republicans’ map unnecessarily pairs incumbents, targeting several Democratic lawmakers and laying the groundwork to force them out of office.
    • Two of these paired Democratic incumbents are in Gwinnett, the county in Georgia with the largest increase in residents, despite the fact that there is an open seat nearby that either incumbent could have easily been drawn into.
    • This competition is designed with the sole purpose to kick out of office Democrats that communities have already chosen to represent them.

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