WASHINGTON — Tomorrow, Georgia lawmakers will convene in a special session to draw new maps that will shape the political representation of the state for the decade. Last month a federal judge threw out Georgia’s GOP-drawn congressional and state legislative maps after they violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting the political power of Black voters.
Following the undemocratic, gerrymandered maps that Georgia Senate Republicans released yesterday, Georgia House Republicans have a chance this week to flip the script and draw fair maps that accurately represent the growing population of Black voters in the state.
The DLCC is warning the GOP to follow the law and stop the ugly playbook of voter suppression by diluting the political power of Black voters.
DLCC Communications Director Abhi Rahman released the following statement:
“Georgia House Republicans have been given an opportunity in this special session to do the right thing, comply with the law, and prove that they aren’t drawing maps solely for their own political gain. They have a second chance to draw fair maps — and we hope they do. However, we’ve seen all year in Georgia that racial gerrymandering remains a top priority for the GOP and voter suppression remains alive and well in the state.”
“Regardless of how the maps are drawn, the DLCC will be investing in and fighting this year to build Democratic power in Georgia. The question now is will Georgia House Republicans propose fair maps? Or will they stick to gerrymandering and their cynical and illegal playbook of blatant voter suppression? Either way, the DLCC stands ready to fight. We urge lawmakers to propose fair maps, and in the meantime, the DLCC is focusing our energy on investing in Georgia and expanding Democratic power in the state.”
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) is the official Democratic Party committee dedicated to winning America’s state legislatures and building state infrastructure. Over the last decade, we have fought cycle-over-cycle to gain a dozen new legislative chamber majorities and we are leading the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
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