LISTEN: Georgia reaction to Wednesday's landmark Supreme Court ruling striking a blow to the Voting Rights Act has been swift. GPB's Peter Biello reports.
Georgia reaction to Wednesday's landmark Supreme Court ruling striking a blow to the Voting Rights Act has been swift and divided along party lines.
U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock blasted the decision, calling it a profound step backward for American democracy.
"The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is the crown jewel of the civil rights movement,” he said. “Without it, I, quite literally, would not be standing here today in front of you as a voice in the United States Senate for the people of Georgia."
The left-leaning Fair Fight Georgia said Democrats could lose two seats in the U.S. House, 17 seats in the Georgia House and eight seats in the Georgia Senate if state lawmakers were to redraw the state's political maps based on the decision.
Gov. Brian Kemp would have to call a special session to redistrict before the November midterms. Primary elections in those races are already underway.
David Becker of the Center for Election Innovation and Research says redistricting now would create chaos.
“It's going to be very, very difficult for the legislature, which is out of session in Georgia, to be called back for redistricting,” he said. “I don't know if Gov. Brian Kemp has any intention of doing that whatsoever."
Carter Chapman, a spokesperson for Kemp’s office, told GPB, “We are actively analyzing this ruling and its potential impacts, but cannot comment further at this time.”
At least two candidates seeking Kemp's office, frontrunners Rick Jackson and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, praised the decision and called on state lawmakers to redraw the maps.
