local
South Carolina and Georgia have more in common than peaches
By Tom Baxter at SaportaReport (Atlanta civic/news)
· June 22, 2026
· 4 min read
The month before the special session began here in Georgia, South Carolina’s legislature convened with the same mission: to redraw the state’s congressional map in line with the U.S. Supreme Court barring the consideration of race. What happened there was an accurate indicator of what would happe...
Key takeaway Supreme Court barring the consideration of race.
Why this matters in The Atlanta
The decision by Georgia's legislature to resist redrawing the state's congressional map has significant implications for the local electoral landscape. With African-American voters making up 33 percent of the electorate in Georgia, any attempt to eliminate majority African-American districts would have required substantial changes to the existing map, potentially jeopardizing Republican-held seats. The experience of South Carolina, where a similar demographic dynamic is at play, served as a cautionary tale for Georgia's lawmakers. By choosing not to redraw the map, Georgia's Republican state legislators may have avoided the risk of spreading their majorities too thin, which could have led to unintended consequences in the midterm elections. This calculated move suggests that local politicians are keenly aware of the delicate balance of power in Georgia's electoral landscape and are taking steps to maintain their advantage.
About this story
Original reporting by SaportaReport (Atlanta civic/news) . The Atlanta surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit SaportaReport (Atlanta civic/news) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 22, 2026 ·
Source: SaportaReport (Atlanta civic/news) ·
Reading time: 4 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? The month before the special session began here in Georgia, South Carolina’s legislature convened with the same mission: to redraw the state’s congressional map in line with the U.S. Supreme Court barring the consideration of race. What happened there was an accurate indicator of what would happe...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 22, 2026 by SaportaReport (Atlanta civic/news) and curated for The Atlanta readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Tom Baxter at SaportaReport (Atlanta civic/news). To learn more about how The Atlanta selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Atlanta, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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