ATLANTA -- The Georgia House on Thursday approved a bill that draws political boundaries for the state’s 14 congressional districts.

The plan was approved by a 110-60 party line vote. It now heads to the state Senate, which will take the map up next week.

Georgia’s growing population means it gained a U.S. House seat this year. Republicans, who control the redistricting process in Georgia for the first time, are using their power at the state Capitol to add to their clout in Washington.

The GOP placed the new seat in the conservative northeast corner of the state and it’s widely expected that it will add to the Republican hold on the state’s congressional delegation, which currently stands at 8-5.

Lawmakers must redraw legislative and congressional maps every 10 years to line up political boundaries with new U.S. Census figures.

Democrats on Thursday complained that the GOP U.S. House map targets John Barrow, of Savannah, diluting black voting strength along coastal Georgia. They also argue the plan should not split Atlanta into two districts.

Republicans countered their plan actually increases to four the number of districts in the state with of a majority of black voters. U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop’s district in southwest Georgia would cross the 50 percent threshold for black voters, meaning it would be protected moving forward under the Voting Rights Act.

Republicans also said Atlanta would benefit from having bipartisan representation in Washington. The proposal would hand part of the upscale Atlanta neighborhood of Buckhead to Republican U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey. U.S. Rep. John Lewis, a Democrat, currently represents the area. The change would mark the first time in memory that a Republican would represent part of Georgia’s largest city.

“It is beneficial for the capital city of our state, the largest city in our state, to have both parties representing it,” House Majority Whip Edward Lindsey said.

Lindsey said the Voting Rights Act is designed to protect minority voting interests, which Republicans have done.

“Folks, the Voting Rights Act is not an incumbent-protection act for Democrats,” the Atlanta Republican said.

But House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams railed against what she said was a racially divisive plan, saying that it crams “minority voters into enclaves.”

“It creates a white party and a black party and lets our Asian and Latino friends fend for themselves,” the Atlanta Democrat said.

She said Republicans, who have complained repeatedly about unfair Democratic redistricting efforts in the past, have brought “the stench of hypocrisy” to the House chambers.

On Wednesday, Gov. Nathan Deal signed maps redrawing maps for the state’s 226 House members and senators.

All of Georgia’s new maps must also be approved by the U.S. Department of Justice or the federal courts under the Voting Rights Act.

It’s widely expected that Democrats will challenge the GOP-authored maps in court.

In approving the congressional map, the House has completed its business for the special session. Members must return next week, however, to deal with any changes made by the state Senate as well as some local legislation.