Lucy McBath Stands Firm After District Redistricting

(Daily360.com) – Democrat Representative Lucy McBath vows to continue in Congress despite her district being eliminated in Georgia’s new congressional district map. The Republican-controlled state legislature offered up a new congressional district map that immediately drew Democrat opposition and lawsuits. A federal judge decided their maps had to be re-drawn again, specifically to empower black voters in predominantly black neighborhoods.

Following the judge’s ruling the latest map will increase the number of seats for largely black neighborhoods. The district McBath currently holds the seat in, Georgia’s 6th district, will essentially be cut up and absorbed into for other districts. The reason for this is that the current 6th district is not homogenous enough, it is considered a “coalition” district consisting of black, Latino and Asian voters. McBath is known as a prolific fundraiser and power-player since being elected in 2018 and is expected to run in the newly created Georgia 7th district. She is a firm advocate for anti-gun policies among other popular left-aligned causes and issues.

Although the constituency will be largely new for McBath within the 7th district, insiders believe her name recognition and other abilities should make her the easy favorite to win the seat. She’s also been fundraising and vocal about the re-districting and her opposition to it. Overall, most political professionals believe the redistricting will not change the makeup of the state’s representatives. Republicans are expected to hold on to nine seats versus the Democrats who will likely take the other five seats.

The revised map has been sent by the Georgia State House to Governor Brian Kemp where he is expected to sign it and make it official. The state’s filing deadline is not until March of 2024, meaning that McBath will have plenty of time to decide her next move. Should she choose not to run for the seat in the 7th congressional district she could turn her attention to state-wide races including the open 2026 governor’s seat.

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