North Carolina Elections Committee Approves GOP Redistricting Map

The North Carolina Elections Committee has voted in favor of a proposed redistricting map submitted by the Republican Party, marking a significant step in the state’s political landscape. The committee’s decision came on the morning of March 25, 2024, and the state Senate is set to vote on the proposal later today.

With a Republican majority in both the North Carolina House of Representatives and the Senate, the chances of the redistricting map receiving approval are notably high. Senate Leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Destin Hall introduced the plan last week, asserting that it aims to enhance support for former President Donald Trump‘s agenda in the state. Hall stated, “President Trump earned a clear mandate from the voters of North Carolina and the rest of the country, and we intend to defend it by drawing an additional Republican congressional seat.”

The proposed map specifically revises the 1st congressional district, which is currently represented by Democrat Don Davis. The alterations involve the removal of several counties, including Wayne, Wilson, Greene, and Lenoir, replacing them with coastal counties such as Carteret and Craven. This shift could potentially strengthen Republican representation in a district that is considered the only competitive one in North Carolina.

If the General Assembly approves the new map, it will not be subject to veto by the governor. Currently, North Carolina’s congressional delegation consists of ten Republicans and four Democrats. Following a redistricting process in 2023, Republicans gained three additional U.S. House seats, a significant increase from the previous equal split between the two parties.

Davis, who was re-elected in 2024 by a narrow margin of 1.5%, now faces a more challenging landscape should the new map be enacted. The proposed changes reflect a broader strategy by the Republican Party to consolidate its influence in North Carolina as they prepare for the upcoming elections.

There have been discussions about a potential endorsement for Berger by Trump in exchange for support on these redistricting plans. Nevertheless, Berger has publicly denied any such arrangement and stated that he has not been in contact with the former president regarding the matter.

As the Senate prepares for its vote, the outcome of this redistricting proposal could reshape North Carolina’s political dynamics significantly, further entrenching Republican power in the state.