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Political Rewind: Trump endorses Jones; Redistricting battles; Duncan distances himself from RNC
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The panel:
Dr. Alan Abramowitz — Emeritus professor of political science, Emory University
Greg Bluestein— Political reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Rahul Bali — Politics reporter, WABE
The breakdown:
1. The Supreme Court heard an argument in Alabama. Here's why the redrawn maps are important over the border in Georgia.
- A lower court ruled last month the state’s new congressional map likely violates the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
- The New York Times reported the Supreme Court reinstated the maps.
- But the conservative majority wrote that a lower court’s requirement for a new Alabama map is too close to the 2022 primary dates.
- The New York Times reported the Supreme Court reinstated the maps.
- In Georgia, District Judge Steve Jones says he could pause a case on redrawing of the 13th and 6th District lines, based on the Supreme Court ruling.
- Both primaries in Alabama and Georgia are on May 24.
2. Democrats running statewide outraise GOP opponents.
- Abrams raised $9.2 million dollars in the past two months.
- Incumbent Gov. Brian Kemp raised about $2 million less than Abrams in a six-month span.
- GOP challenger David Perdue raised about one million dollars since December
- Kemp pressed Perdue to drop out due to lackluster fundraising.
- Sen. Raphael Warnock raised $9.8 million in the final three months of 2021.
- Challenger Herschel Walker reported a $5.4 million haul in the fourth quarter, his campaign reported in January.
3. Vernon Jones sees endorsement from former President Donald Trump.
- Jones, a former state lawmaker, dropped out of the race for governor earlier this week and switched over to run for Georgia's 10th Congressional seat.
- The former president endorsed Jones today.
- The 10th District borders the Atlanta suburbs and runs all the way to the South Carolina border.
- Republican Jody Hice represents the district currently, but is running for Georgia Secretary of State.
- Mike Collins is running for the 10th District seat as well.
4. Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan criticized a Republican National Committee vote on Jan. 6 violence.
- Duncan has been critical about the RNC's framing of the events at the capitol as "legitimate political discourse."
Tomorrow on Political Rewind:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Kevin Riley joins our panel to talk about the Buckhead cityhood movement.