New House redistricting map moves Stephens County to District 32

The Georgia House of Representatives Redistricting Committee has approved the Republican Party’s proposed redistricting map for 2022 and it moves Stephens County from District 28 into District 32.

It also moves Franklin and Hart counties from District 32 to District 33.

The Republican-led Georgia House of Representatives adopted new boundaries for the 180 House districts last Wednesday.

After nearly two hours of debate, the House approved a map proposed by GOP leadership 99-79, voting mostly along party lines.

Under their revised redistricting map submitted last week, District 32 will consist of all of Stephens and Banks counties, the top quarter of North Jackson County, and a small section of South Habersham County.

District 33 will now include all of Franklin and Hart counties and the top northern part of Madison County.

But State Representative Alan Powell who represents Franklikn and Hart counties says it doesn’t change who represents those districts.

The General Assembly redraws Georgia’s legislative and congressional district lines each decade to accommodate changes in population reflected in the U.S. Census.

Rep. Bonnie Rich, R-Suwanne and Chairman of the House Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment Committee said Wednesday the map crafted by House Republicans keeps House districts as close to equal in population as possible – the goal being 59,511 residents.

The map also creates 49 majority Black House districts, an increase of one district over the current House map lawmakers adopted in 2011, as well as 27 “minority-opportunity” districts where minority candidates should be competitive.

Rich said the Republican map splits 69 counties, compared to 73 under the current map.

It also pairs only eight incumbent House members in four districts, she said.

The House map Democrats drew in 2001, the last time they held a majority in the chamber, paired 37 Republican incumbents and nine Democratic incumbents.