And Georgia's two new U.S. House seats will also probably be in north Georgia. Exactly which seats go and which remain is as much a political battle as a numerical one.
Few issues are as blatantly political as redistricting.
You've got personal careers at stake and the whole issue of civil rights and the fight for party power,'' said Senate Republican Leader Eric Johnson of Savannah who, like many of his colleagues, will find himself with divided loyalties in redistricting. As Republican leader, Johnson will work to draw districts enabling a Republican takeover of the Senate. Like the House, it has been controlled by Democrats since Reconstruction. Currently, there are 32 Democrats and 24 Republicans. At the same time, however, Johnson will work to help Savannah's other senator, Regina Thomas, a black Democrat.