A federal judge on Tuesday refused to dismiss a lawsuit claiming Georgia’s system for electing members of the state Public Service Commission dilutes minority voting strength in violation of the federal Voting Rights Act. 

The ruling came on the same day that Georgia voters narrowly reelected longtime PSC member Lauren “Bubba” McDonald to another term on the all-Republican, all-white board over a Black Democratic challenger—a contest that was overlooked amid the two nationally watched runoff elections for the U.S. Senate.