Kemp signs controversial Cobb County maps into law

• Democrats said Republicans drew new boundaries to weaken the gains they made in local elections in such counties as Clarke, Richmond and Gwinnett.

Catch-up quick: The new maps, which will go into effect Jan. 1, 2023, put Democratic incumbents from both entities into the same district and creates a new district for each map.

• The new school board map places Democratic members Charisse Davis and Jaha Howard into the same district and creates a new vacant seat.
• The same is done to the Board of Commissioners’ map, which moves incumbent Democrat Jerica Richardson into the same district as JoAnn Birrell, her Republican counterpart.

What they’re saying: State Rep. Ginny Ehrhart, who sponsored the bill for the school board, tells Axios in a statement that the maps were “legally and fairly drawn and are in keeping with the U.S. and Georgia constitutions, as well as the Voting Rights Act.”

The other side: State Sen. Erick Allen tells Axios the maps don't reflect the will of Cobb County voters.

• "It is a power grab by a fading minority that understands they can't win on the issues," he said in a statement. "The governor's signature is not the end of this; it's just the beginning of the next phase."

What’s next: Lawsuits, most likely.