In a move that solidifies their party's control over state politics, Republicans in the Georgia legislature have approved a new congressional map. The map not only protects their dominance in the state but also dashes Democratic hopes of adding an additional US House seat at least for the time being. This decision has garnered criticism as critics argue that the map defies parts of a federal judge's decree to boost Black political power in the swing state. They predict further legal challenges even before the final vote.

The court-ordered map, approved during a special legislative session, has sparked intense debate. Republicans defend the map, claiming it fully complies with the order issued by US District Judge Steve Jones in October after he found the state's existing district lines violated the Voting Rights Act. Republican Governor Brian Kemp is expected to sign the new map, along with two legislative maps that preserve GOP majorities in the state House and Senate, into law by the court-imposed deadline of Friday.

The redistricting moves in Georgia, along with those in other states, have captured the attention of politicians in Washington. These maps could ultimately determine which party controls the US House of Representatives after the upcoming elections. Presently, Republicans hold a slender majority in the chamber.

The newly approved Georgia congressional map has met the requirement set by Judge Jones to establish an additional Black-majority district. However, it maintains the GOP's current 9-5 edge in its US House delegation. To achieve this, the map targets Democratic Representative Lucy McBath's Atlanta-area district by shifting it further into Republican territory.

Republican state Representative Matt Reeves asserts, "It is a fair map for the people of Georgia." He made this statement shortly before the state House voted 98-71 to approve the congressional plan, it being the final step before sending it to Governor Kemp's desk. On the other hand, Democratic state Representative Sam Park criticized the map, viewing it as an open defiance of Judge Jones' order and drawing parallels to some Republicans' refusal to accept the outcome of the 2020 election. Park stated, "It is self-evident that the Republican Party's primary goal is to maintain power at all costs."

Judge Jones will have the final say on whether the new lines comply with his order. A hearing on the maps has been scheduled for December 20. The congressional map approved in Georgia creates a new Black-majority district as ordered by Judge Jones but significantly reshapes the multiracial district held by Representative Lucy McBath, a Black congresswoman who gained prominence as a gun safety advocate.

Georgia officials have been accused of following Alabama's lead, where Republicans initially ignored a federal court mandate to create an additional Black-majority congressional district to comply with the Voting Rights Act. Democrats view this as a parallel situation in Georgia.

The controversy surrounding the Georgia maps coincides with a wave of legal challenges and setbacks for voting rights groups and Democrats in recent weeks. The issue is anticipated to reach the US Supreme Court for resolution. Additionally, redrawing congressional lines in Georgia and an ongoing legal battle over a map governing county seats in Galveston, Texas, could spark further legal disputes over the future of multiracial coalition districts.

Political scientist Charles Bullock, an expert on redistricting, believes that the new Georgia congressional map appears to defy Judge Jones' caution against eliminating "minority opportunity districts." McBath's current district, where Black, Asian, and Latino residents collectively form the majority of voters, would no longer exist under the approved map. The new Georgia congressional map creates four Black-majority districts, up from two, and reduces multiracial districts from three to one. Meanwhile, nine majority-White districts are left untouched, likely preserving the current number of Republican seats based on voting patterns in the state.