State lawmakers are days away from a judge-imposed Dec. 8 deadline to create new electoral maps for the Georgia General Assembly and U.S. Congress, also known as redistricting. 

Our senior investigative reporters, Tammy Joyner and Jill Jordan Sieder, have been giving special attention to the special legislative session at the Capitol. Joyner is following the Senate proceedings, while Sieder is following the House proceedings. They are your eyes and ears during the session, which means you will find a variety of stories and live updates on what’s happening inside and even outside of the Capitol.  

We’d love to hear from you. If there’s something you would like us to report on during the special session or just have a question about what’s going on, shoot us an email at [email protected].

Here are some of the highlights of Tuesday’s session.

Quote(s) of the day:

“You can’t stop the change that has been and is coming to Georgia. The Democrats will become a majority in this legislature. They will take back offices across the state. When we do I can assure you that fair maps will be the priority and things will change.”

 — Sen. Jason Esteves, D-Atlanta 

“There’s an old legal maxim. When you have the facts on your side, you argue the facts. When you’ve got the law on your side, you argue the law. When you don’t have either, you just yell loudly and pound on the table and  that’s what we’ve seen for the last few days.  In this case, the facts are on the side that back this map. This is equal. The law is on our side. We are complying with the law and in compliance with [U.S. District] Judge[Steve] Jones’ interpretation of the law. We’re doing what he said.”

— Sen. Bill Cowsert, R-Athens

Biggest thing that happened today: 

The Georgia Senate gave final passage to a Republican-drawn state House district plan, HB 1EX, by a vote of 32-21. It now heads to the governor’s desk. Senators also passed the Republican-drawn congressional map by a vote of 32-22. It now heads to the House.

Interesting observation inside the Capitol:

Sen Esteves brought his 8-year-old son Jaeden to work with him today.

Also, Black senators Gloria Butler,  Ed Harbison, Michael “Doc” Rhett and Harold Jones — all members of the Senate Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee —  submitted “Minority Reports,” a written objection to the Republican-drawn House district plan and the congressional plan. 

Here’s what they said about the House plan: “HB 1EX is a partisan gerrymander that does not empower any voters to choose candidates of their choice. This map weakens the power of Black votes. It exists only to entrench the power of the current majority.”

Here’s what they said about the congressional plan: “This proposal strips minority voters from selecting the candidates of their choice across the map. Some 1.56 million voters of color are packed into four metro Atlanta districts. These voters currently have five minority opportunity districts. This proposal reduces minority voting power across the board.”

Sen  Sally Harrell, D-Atlanta, tearfully recognized the family of Georgia native Sgt. Rose Lubin, who was killed in Jerusalem during a terror attack while on  border patrol duty. Lubin’s family was  in the gallery to hear Senate Resolution 11EX read in her honor.

What’s for lunch?

Senators dined on sandwiches and chips, available in an anteroom that serves as the chamber’s mini cafe. 

 — Tammy Joyner

[email protected]

Quote(s) of the day:

“The Republican plan moves Black voters around like pawns in a game. Republicans’ manipulation of the Senate maps fails to provide Black voters identified in the voter dilution area with new opportunities to elect their candidates of choice.”

— Rep. Kim Alexander, D-Hiram, a member of the House redistricting committee

“Some of the members in the chamber seem to think they’re better experts of the Voting Rights Act than Judge [Steven] Jones. The order doesn’t find any specific districts illegal. … This is not judicial GPS.”

— Rep. Rob Leverett, R-Elberton, chair of the House redistricting committee

Biggest thing that happened today:

After over an hour of vigorous debate, the House voted 98-71 to adopt SB 1EX, the Republican majority’s electoral map for the state Senate.

The House Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee began to consider proposed congressional maps.

The committee heard from Sen. Shelly Echols, chair of the Senate redistricting committee, who presented the Senate’s plan for the U.S. House, which she said fully complied with a federal judge’s order by creating one new Black-majority district.

The committee also heard from House Minority Leader James Beverly, R-Macon, who said the Republicans’ congressional plan violates the Voting Rights Act and the judge’s order by dismantling U.S. House District 7 in Gwinnett, a minority opportunity district with a 67% minority coalition made up of Black, Hispanic and Asian voters. Beverly presented the Democrats’ proposed congressional plan, which he said would remedy the violations in both the 2021 enacted map and the new map proposed by the GOP.

Interesting observation inside the Capitol:

The Georgia Legislative Black Caucus held a press conference to complain about all of the maps submitted so far by the Republican majority for the state House, state Senate and U.S. House. Sen. Nikki Merritt, D-Grayson, said all of the GOP maps fail to align with the court’s order to better serve the growing population of Black voters in Georgia, and “risk dragging us back to square one, as we may find ourselves returning to the court for a decision on maps that truly serves the principles of democracy and justice.”

Happening while lawmakers are in session:

Members of the 4^th Congressional Federation of Democratic Women protested outside the Capitol the “unlawful maps” they said were created by the Republican majority. “We want to be treated equally,” said the federation’s President Phyllis Hatcher. “These maps are taking away our voting rights.”

What’s for lunch?

Members of the House Republican Caucus enjoyed pasta and salad from Ippolito’s Italian restaurant.

                                                — Jill Jordan Sieder
                              [email protected]

In case you missed it, here’s what you need to know about the special legislative session.

• What is a special session of the Georgia Legislature, and why is it happening?
• Legislators schedule special assembly to address redistricting, but will they make headway?
• Say what? Terms you may hear during the special session

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We’d love to hear from you. If there’s something you would like us to report on during the special session or just have a question about what’s going on, shoot us an email at [email protected].