Redistricting Recap
Much uncertainty ahead, and Georgia’s voters will pay the price
December 20, 2023
In early December, the Georgia Legislature met in a special session to redraw Georgia’s House, Senate, and Congressional boundaries. This was required because a federal judge determined the previous maps, drawn in 2021, violated the federal Voting Rights Act by diluting the voting strength of Black voters. (Read a recent edition of my newsletter for more details on why the 2021 maps were ruled unlawful).
A healthy Democracy relies on fair maps. The maps directly impact whose views are represented in elected positions of power. Gerrymandering makes minority rule possible, and is the reason issues that are popular with the majority of Georgians– from common sense gun safety laws to reproductive freedom– barely see the light of day in the Georgia General Assembly.
Although my party asked for an open and transparent map drawing process for the special session, the maps were revealed at the last possible moment and rammed through the legislative process without any changes or opportunity for genuine input from the public or Democratic party. It is my legal opinion, and the opinion of many in the field, that the maps passed along partisan lines during the special session did not remedy the problems with the 2021 maps and are also unlawful.
So what happens next?
There will be a court hearing today in front of Judge Steve C. Jones, the same judge who determined the 2021 maps were unlawful. If the judge decides any or all of the maps drawn during the special session failed to comply with his instructions to remedy the 2021 maps, he could order the maps be redrawn a third time, likely by an independent third party. Those maps would have to be finalized by mid January in order to be usable for the 2024 election cycle.
However, it is widely understood that if Judge Jones orders the maps redrawn, the state will appeal. Not only will this potentially lead to years of uncertainty with respect to district lines and elected representation, the state will have the opportunity to use the legal appellate process to weaken the Voting Rights Act which is in place to protect Black and minority voters– the largest growing population in Georgia by far. As part of a national strategy, Republicans have been chipping away at the Voting Rights Act for years. Further weakening of the Voting Rights Act will have massive implications in Georgia, as well as nationwide.
To be sure, it’s the voters, tax payers, and county election offices that will bear the brunt of this legal maneuvering and political gamesmanship. And it could have all been avoided if only the legislature had drawn maps that were fair to Georgia’s Black voters in 2021.
The Impact of Redistricting on HD 90
The boundaries of House District 90 were significantly altered in the house district map passed during the special legislative session. If the map stands, parts of Cedar Grove, Terry Mill, and Kirkwood will be removed from the district (pink), and parts of Candler Park, Druid Hills, Virginia Highlands, Morningside, and Panthersville will be added to the district (teal).
Check out the map below, which shows the precincts that make up HD90 under the 2021 maps and under the maps we just passed during the special session.
Remember– nothing is final for now. We’ll know more after the court hearing this morning, and I’ll be back with updates as soon as I have them.
Potential Changes to HD 90,
GOP Forces Resolutions that Dehumanize and Politicize
Even though the special session was supposed to be limited in scope to passing new maps, Republicans forced votes on two resolutions in order to score cheap, political points. The first resolution, HR 4EX, was titled “Hamas terrorism, condemn,” and the second, SR 6EX, was about the Atlanta Public Safety Training center.
To be clear, these resolutions have no force of law; they are pure political gamesmanship in anticipation of a tight 2024 election cycle. Both resolutions took complicated, nuanced issues over which the Georgia General Assembly has no authority or direct influence, dumbed them down to false dichotomies, and attempted to force Democrats to pick a side.
As I said in my well speech, time spent on political gamesmanship comes at the expense of the work that we are sent to the Gold Dome to do– work that can help Georgians, rather than cause pain and division. It was politics at its nastiest.
Make it stand out
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
I voted in support of HR 4EX, because I strongly condemn Hamas and the terror they seek to perpetuate. The events of October 7, 2023 were horrific and my heart goes out to every person who has been impacted by Hamas’ cowardly attack on Israel and the jewish community. In addition, I stand against anti-semitism and condemn the brazen anti-semitic threats that were made earlier this year in our district.
In addition, I feel strongly that HR 4EX should have gone further. The decision by House Republicans to exclude any reference to the Palestinian people was, at best, insensitive, and at worst, an exploitation of human tragedy for political gain. We cannot purport to care about the victims of Hamas and not acknowledge that Palestinian people are victims of Hamas, too. We lose nothing by acknowledging the tragedy in Gaza. As my colleague Rep. Michelle Au said in her remarks before the vote, “recognizing our shared humanity is our strength, not a paradox.”
I voted against SR 6EX because our community, which of course is where the training facility is being constructed, was not centered. Not one sponsor of the resolution hailed from DeKalb County or Atlanta, nor did they consult with any of us who actually represent the area directly impacted by the training facility. The resolution wholly ignored many of my constituents’ legitimate concerns. Moreover, this is a local matter– whether it's the city council or the people who get to decide the fate of the training center, the State has no business meddling. That’s especially true when the meddling is not for noble purposes, but rather to score cheap political points against Democrats. As I explained from the well, this resolution was nothing more than a game of “Democrat Gotcha”.
Holiday Cheer
On a lighter note, we were in session during the annual lighting of the Christmas Tree at the Capitol. The Atlanta Boy’s Choir performed beautifully during the ceremony, as well as for the Speaker of the House. Proud mama here- my oldest, Oscar, is a member. It was so fun to have him there and share that moment with my colleagues. My sincere appreciation to House Speaker Jon Burns, who welcomed the choir with open arms and made the boys feel like a million bucks.
In service,
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