Special Session November 2023: Redistricting Shuffleboard

The special legislative session begins Wednesday, but the game has already begun.  Like a game of shuffleboard, the majority has thrown its weight around trying to knock out its opponent, the Democrats, rather than fix what the violations of the Voting Rights Act that they enacted when they put the current legislative map in play.

In shuffleboard, you try not to fall off the end of the board in the alley while you knock your opponent around.  The court will have to determine whether the Republicans have fallen off the board.  

The Voter Shuffle

Rather than serve the best interests of Georgians’, the Republican Senate majority has chosen to defy Judge Jones’ order, the Voting Rights Act and the basic framework of our democracy – that every eligible voter has the right to equal representation regardless of race.  I am deeply concerned about the failure of the Republican proposed maps to cure the existing violations that the Republican majority enacted in the first place.  

The fact is the proposed maps do not result in any significant net change for Black voters.  Rather, with proposing to move some voters in the 10 districts Judge Jones identified as “affected” into Black majority districts, Republicans also aim to move Black voters out of these majority-Black districts, resulting in a net gain of only about 3,000 Black voters in majority-Black districts within the Affected Area.  And, the Republican proposal shuffled many Black voters outside the Affected Area into majority-Black districts to pack them and minimize their representation in other districts.

District 42 Knock Out

Even though the 516 page court order called for the State to remedy specific violations of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in the area of 10 existing Senate districts: Districts 10, 16, 17, 25, 28, 30, 34, 35, 43, 44 (the “Affected Area”) by drawing  two additional majority-Black districts in the Affected Area, Republicans are proposing that my district - Senate District 42 - be dismantled and reconstituted with new boundaries and demographics.

While I can draw many conclusions about why my district would be a target for my Republican colleagues, my main concern is that Georgians are not being served better with the Republican proposed maps. 

What's Next

• The Georgia Senate Democratic Caucus will hold a Press Conference on the Senate Maps Proposal on Wednesday, November 29 at 9:30 a.m. at 203 Coverdell Legislative Office Building.  This event will be livestreamed, allowing remote access for those unable to attend in person. You may view the livestream at https://vimeo.com/showcase/9158785.

• The Special Legislative Session begins Wednesday and must be completed by Dec. 8.  The state Senate will meet according to the schedule posted at https://www.legis.ga.gov/schedule/senate and you can livestream or watch recordings of the committee meetings and sessions.

• Submit written comments on the upcoming redistricting special session to the Georgia Joint Legislative Redistricting Committees at bit.ly/PublicCommentGA. 

• Follow the news, always.  Listen to Politically Georgia, read the Georgia Recorder.  

Playing to Serve

As a legislator for over 14 years, I have always worked hard to serve my constituents, regardless of race.  This will continue regardless of the proposed significant change to the borders, shape and demographics of my district.  I will also continue to fight for all Georgians’ right to fair representation within the framework of our federal and state laws.

I have been raising money to plan for possibly needing to campaign in newly drawn district where I will need to build new connections with voters who don't know me and with communities I might be serving.  Thank you to those who have already donated.  Your generosity, support and dollars mean more than I can say.

We are not allowed to fundraise during session, so if you'd like to contribute, please do so before 10 a.m. on Wednesday, November 29 or after session ends on December 8.

Contribute Here Today!

As always, it's an honor to serve and represent you in the Georgia State Senate, and I thank you for your steadfast support.