The Maps Are Done
Georgia’s Republican-controlled General Assembly convened a special session on June 17 and passed new congressional, state Senate, and state House maps on party-line votes. The maps shift Georgia’s congressional delegation from 9 Republicans and 5 Democrats to 11 Republicans and 3 Democrats by eliminating two Black-majority districts. Governor Kemp signed all three map packages. The new boundaries take effect for the 2028 election cycle.
No maps were released before the session began. Lawmakers acknowledged they had not seen proposals in the weeks leading up to June 17. The public had no meaningful window to review or challenge the boundaries before the vote.
What Changed: Congressional Districts
| District | Before (BVAP) | After (BVAP) | Current Rep | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CD-7 | 35% | ~22% | Lucy McBath (D) | Dismantled as Black-influence district |
| CD-13 | 52% | ~30% | David Scott (D) | No longer majority-Black |
| CD-2 | 50% | ~48% | Sanford Bishop (D) | Narrowed, competitive |
| CD-4 | 58% | ~55% | Hank Johnson (D) | Reduced but retained |
| CD-5 | 51% | ~49% | Nikema Williams (D) | Narrowed |
The session also redraws every state Senate and state House district. Changes to state legislative maps could result in 26 fewer Black- or Hispanic-majority districts and cost Democrats up to 20 seats.
How They Justified It
Republicans cited the Supreme Court’s April 29 Louisiana v. Callais decision, which ruled 6-3 that using race as a predominant factor in drawing districts is unconstitutional even when done to comply with the Voting Rights Act. The Callais fallout has triggered redistricting across the South.
Kemp initially ruled out redistricting before 2026 elections on May 1. Twelve days later, he reversed himself and called the session.
The Response
“We do not need new maps. We need fair maps.”
— Christopher Bruce, ACLU of Georgia Policy Director, calling the redistricting effort “nefarious beyond belief”
The Georgia Legislative Black Caucus protested at the Capitol before the session. Chair Sen. Nikki Merritt called it an attempt to silence Black voters. The NAACP launched an ‘Out of Bounds’ boycott campaign targeting Georgia and Florida college athletics until redistricting is overturned. The Democratic Party of Georgia called the move a brazen attempt to take away the voting power of Black Georgians.
CNN reports this redistricting wave could produce the largest loss of Black political representation since Reconstruction.
What You Can Do
- Demand Congress pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Use Resist Bot petition PCRBFX to send a letter in two minutes.
- Contact Georgia’s U.S. Senators. Call Sen. Jon Ossoff at (202) 224-3521 and the senior senator’s office at (202) 224-3643. Tell them to co-sponsor the John Lewis VRA.
- Support legal challenges. The ACLU of Georgia and Democracy Docket are tracking and filing litigation against the new maps.
- Show up at public comment hearings. The Georgia General Assembly reapportionment page lists upcoming meetings. Attend and testify.
- Spread the word. Share this brief and the VRA District Impact breakdown so people understand what is happening before 2028 arrives.
Context
This brief follows our pre-session analysis published June 12, which covered what was at stake before the maps were revealed. For the broader national picture, read our Callais redistricting fallout brief and the Civil Rights and Racial Justice issue hub.
Sources
- Georgia Recorder: Kemp calls June special session for redistricting and ballot QR codes
- GPB: Georgia lawmakers draw new congressional and legislative districts June 17
- The Gateway Pundit: Kemp calls special session to redraw Georgia maps
- CBS News: Kemp signs redistricting maps for 2028 election cycle
- AJC: What to know about Georgia’s special session on redistricting
- CNN: Redistricting wave could produce largest loss of Black representation since Reconstruction