Federal Judge approves district maps drawn by Georgia Republicans

U.S. District Court Judge Steve C. Jones issued two rulings that side with Georgia Republicans, preserving their 9-5 majority in Congress and their legislative majority inside the Georgia State Capitol. In the ruling, Judge Jones said the General Assembly “fully complied” with his order. Jones also ruled the old maps illegally diluted the voting power of Black Georgians, but the new maps submitted by Georgia Republicans do follow his order. Moreover, the new Congressional map includes five congressional districts where Black voters made up a majority or near-majority, an increase from the previous four. “The Court finds that the General Assembly fully complied with this Court’s order requiring the creation of a majority-Black congressional district,” Jones& wrote in his order. A major point of contention was the fact Judge Jones’ order split up a majority-minority district in Gwinnett County, which was a major point of contention during the seven-day special session. It was described as a “coalition district” with a group of Black, Latino, and AAPI voters in Georgia’s most populous county. “This Court has made no finding that Black voters in Georgia politically join with another minority group or groups and that white voters vote as a bloc to...