Federal Judge Approves Georgia's New Congressional Map

Despite Objections, Map Expected to Maintain Republican Majority in State's Congressional Seats

Federal Judge Steve C. Jones approved the new congressional map in Georgia, which was redrawn by the state's Republican-led legislature. The map is expected to maintain the current 9-5 Republican majority among Georgia’s 14 congressional seats.
The map was redrawn following an October ruling by Jones that the previous map violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting the voting power of Black voters. The new map includes an additional majority-Black district.
Democrats and voting rights groups objected to the new map, arguing it still dilutes the power of minority voters. They pointed to the dismantling of Democratic Rep. Lucy McBath's district, which was majority nonwhite, but not majority Black.
Despite the changes, McBath has vowed to stay in Congress and run in a new district if the current map is not overturned on appeal.
Jones rejected the objections, stating that the map complied with his order and that redistricting decisions by a legislature with an eye toward securing partisan advantage does not alone violate the Voting Rights Act.