One thing about the redistricting process that no one else has mentioned is that there were huge population declines in parts of central and south DeKalb. In order for black Democratic legislators to keep their seats someone had to lose, and it sure wasn’t going to be the the white Republicans drawing the maps. You’ll notice that there was very little criticsm of the new maps by the black Democratic legislators in central and south DeKalb. They’re happy they kept their seats and the white Republicans who drew the maps knew this was very important. The white liberals were just going to have to practice what they preach and make sacrifices for blacks to enjoy a special advantage.

The leaves five white Democratic house members in DeKalb. Elena Parent and Scott Holcomb have been placed in a new Republican leaning district, so it probably doesn’t matter who wins their primary if they both decide to run. Karla Drenner and Michele Henson (who already represent majority black districts) have both been placed in new districts in which they will no longer have the benefit of being listed as incumbents. That leaves Mary Margaret Oliver who will run in a district that is about 55% Democratic, meaning that a moderate Republican could tout the benefit of having a legislator who would be in the majority party and more able to get things done for their district for at least the next decade.

She could be #1 in everything, but not get the votes needed to stay in office in her new district. Look at 2010 – she had no opposition in the Democratic primary and ran in the general election against a Republican whom she had previously trounced. Her new district would have her running against an entrenched incumbent Democrat.

All Democrats are equal, but some are more equal than others. It’s all about fairness.