Southern white Democrats in deep south state legislatures

[Bacon King]

The liberal white parts of metro atlanta got consumed by black-majority VRA districts.  Most white Democrats in the metro mostly represent suburban districts that are about even split between whites, blacks, and hispanics. Doug Stoner was one, but he got redistricted into rich and white Sandy Springs so lost reelection. Give me a bit and I'll have a full list.

[Bacon King]

Georgia State Senate: 56 members total; 18 Democrats (5 white Democrats)

Curt Thompson (District 5): He represents a slice of Gwinnett County cutting from Norcross to northern Lawrenceville.
SD 5 is 38% Hispanic, 28% Black.
Steve Thompson (District 33): He represents a slice of Cobb County from Austell to Central Marietta.
SD 33 is 34% Black, 16% Hispanic.
Nan Orrack (District 36): She represents a district centered around Midtown and Downtown Atlanta.
SD 36 is 57% Black (but the whites here are very liberal).
Steve Henson (District 41): He represents a district that reaches from Central Dekalb to Tucker, and then extends a tendril into Gwinnett to take in part of Lilburn. SD 41 is 50% Black, 12% Hispanic.
Jason Carter (District 42): He represents a Decatur-based district. Tons of white liberals.
SD 42 is 24% Black, 12% Hispanic.


Georgia State House: 180 members; 60 Democrats (13 white Democrats).

Stacey Evans (District 42): She represents Southeast Marietta, in Cobb County.
HD 42 is 39% Black, 23% Hispanic.
Pat Gardner (District 57): She represents a precinct-wide strip of territory from super-black to super-white Atlanta.
HD 57 is 55% Black.
Margaret Kaiser (District 59): She represents a district like Gardner's.
HD 59 is 56% Black.
Scott Holcomb (District 81): He represents the Chamblee/Doraville area, in northern Dekalb County.
HD 81 is 35% Hispanic, 10% Black.
Mary Oliver (District 82): She represents the white liberals in the Druid Hills area north of Decatur.
HD 82 is 20% Hispanic, 15% Black.
Karla Drenner (District 85): She represents another noodle district, taking in liberal whites north of Decatur as well as blacks south of Decatur.
HD 85 is 57% Black.
Michelle Henson (District 86): She represents another noodle, directly to the East of Drenner's district.
HD 86 is 61% Black.
Pam Stephenson (District 90): She represents some territory bisected by the Henry-Rockdale County line.
HD 90 is 67% Black.
Hugh Floyd (District 99): He represents a district between Lilburn and Norcross in SW Gwinnett.
HD 99 is 52% Hispanic, 22% Black.
Brian Thomas (District 100): He represents the area just north of Lilburn in Gwinnett County.
HD 100 is 34% Hispanic, 32% Black.
Spencer Frye (District 118): He represents the northern half of Athens-Clarke.
HD 118 is 30% Black, 12% Hispanic.
Debbie Buckner (District 137): She represents the outskirts of Columbus and adjacent rural territory.
HD 137 is 52% Black.
Carol Fullerton (District 153): She represents northeastern Albany.
HD 153 is 59% Black.




(All figures are VAP for 2010 Census, taken directly from the legislature's redistricting reports)

[Bacon King]

I think HD 81 is actually only plurality white- there's significant Vietnamese and Korean communities in the area. I'll have to check on DRA.

But yeah, this is essentially the floor for Democrats in the statewide legislature. The problem is that the ceiling isn't much higher, on account of the GOP's horrible gerrymander.

[Bacon King]

I don't know how it is in other states, but in Georgia, urban black politicians are generally progressive/liberal, while rural black democrats are often fairly conservative. Hell, Sanford Bishop ran ads this year announcing his opposition to gay marriage (and he has no chance of losing at all).

[Bacon King]

We need maps!!!

I can easily do maps of anything Georgia-related. What would you like?