Drawn into friendly political fire, new Georgia redistricting maps prompt lawmaker reshuffling

Georgia state senators vote in favor of SB 1EX during the Senate Committee on Reapportionment and Redistricting hearing on Thursday, November 30, 2023. (Matthew Pearson/WABE)

When a federal judge gave the final OK to newly-drawn electoral maps last month, it spelled curtains for the political careers of at least four state reps who had been drawn into the same district as a member of their own party.

Two Democratic state representatives have agreed not to run against their colleagues, while a pair of Democrats and a pair of Republicans say they’ll let the voters decide in this spring’s primaries.

On Tuesday, Smyrna Democratic state Rep. Doug Stoner announced he will step down at the end of the year rather than face fellow Smyrna Democratic Rep. Teri Anulewicz.