Georgia Legislature Passes New Congressional Redistricting Plan, Despite Criticism from Rep. Lucy McBath’s Campaign Manager

The Georgia Legislature has passed a new congressional redistricting plan, which dismantles Rep. Lucy McBath’s (D-GA) seat to create a new court-ordered Black-majority district. The plan was approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature on Thursday.

U.S. District Court Judge Steve Jones ruled in October that the state’s congressional map was unlawful and must be redrawn to provide for fair representation of the state’s Black voters. The new map maintains the congressional delegation’s existing partisan political balance, with districts that are likely to elect nine Republicans and five Democrats.

The plan has been met with criticism from McBath’s campaign manager, Jake Orvis, who said in a statement that “Georgia Republicans have yet again attempted to subvert voters by changing the rules.” Michael Li, a redistricting expert at the Brennan Center for Justice, said that it is a “high stakes, high-risk maneuver.”

The new map will almost certainly be challenged in court. If U.S. District Judge Steve Jones tosses the new map as a violation of his orders, a new map will have to be drawn. It is unclear what the outcome of the challenge will be, but it is likely to be a lengthy legal battle.