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After the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down Louisiana’s proposed congressional map for relying too heavily on race, Georgia Republican leaders signaled renewed interest in redrawing the state’s own congressional districts—raising the prospect of expanding the GOP’s delegation.
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“These new maps must prioritize traditional redistricting principles—contiguity, compactness, respect for political subdivisions, and communities of interest—without the distorting influence of racial targets,” Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon wrote in a statement.
“We stand ready to support swift action that advances fair representation and upholds the equal protection guarantees of the 14th Amendment. This is a win for democracy, the rule of law, and all Georgians,” he added.
Georgia Democrats currently hold four of the state’s 14 congressional seats.
Other Republican leaders echoed McKoon’s remarks, calling GOP‑friendly redistricting “long overdue.”
“[This is a] long‑overdue win for every southern state forced to bend the knee to federal courts on redistricting,” Burt Jones, former state Senate president pro tempore and current lieutenant governor candidate, wroteopens in a new tab, describing the Supreme Court’s decision as a “victory for common sense.”
In the Louisiana case, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the court that the Voting Rights Act did not require the state to create an additional majority‑minority district.
“Because the Voting Rights Act did not require Louisiana to create an additional majority‑minority district, no compelling interest justified the state’s use of race in creating SB8,” Alito wrote. “That map is an unconstitutional gerrymander, and its use would violate the plaintiffs’ constitutional rights.”
Former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, now a Republican candidate for governor, said Georgia GOP leaders are pushing for a special legislative session to adopt a new congressional map.
“They’re saying it out loud—they’re saying redraw these districts,” Duncan told local mediaopens in a new tab.
“Georgians deserve districts that unite neighbors, preserve local communities, and ensure every vote counts equally,” Duncan added.
Despite Republican enthusiasm, Gov. Brian Kemp has suggested that any new map would not take effect before the 2026 midterm elections—a timeline GOP leaders worry could jeopardize their narrow House majority.
“It’s clear that [Louisiana v. Callais] requires Georgia to adopt new electoral maps before the 2028 election cycle,” Kemp said.
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This article was originally published at The Daily Signal. Photo Credit: Megan Varner/Getty Images.
