RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — On Tuesday, Democrats rallied against a proposed U.S. House map from North Carolina Republicans, aiming to gain an additional seat for the GOP as per instructions from Donald Trump. While Democrats are unlikely to prevent the map's enactment in the short term, they are determined to fight it in the long run.
The Republican proposal targets Democratic Rep. Don Davis, one of North Carolina's three Black representatives, by redrawing two of the state’s 14 congressional districts—potentially allowing Republicans to secure 11 out of 14 seats, up from 10.
This redistricting effort aligns with Trump's call for mid-decade redistricting in Republican-led states, seeking to bolster party representation ahead of the midterm elections in 2026, where historically, the sitting president’s party loses seats. Democrats need to flip just three seats to regain control of the House.
Republicans control both chambers of the General Assembly, and state law hampers Democratic Gov. Josh Stein from blocking their maps with a veto. The newly drawn district is expected to clear the House votes as soon as Wednesday after the Senate's approval on a party-line vote.
Approximately 300 protestors, including Democratic Party officials, expressed their opposition outside the state Capitol, arguing that redistricting would yield adverse effects for the GOP in the upcoming elections. Legal action challenging the map on claims of racial gerrymandering is also anticipated.
We may not be able to halt the Republicans now, but we want to show that people in this state and beyond are paying attention, said North Carolina Democratic Party chair Anderson Clayton to a cheering crowd.
The gathering emphasized accusations against state Republicans for allegedly succumbing to Trump’s influence through this controversial redistricting strategy that aims at altering Davis' district.
In defense, GOP leaders argue that Trump has consistently won North Carolina's electoral votes, justification for expanding their congressional representation.
This state-level redistricting conflict follows a broader national trend initiated when Trump called for changes in U.S. House districts in Republican-dominated states. Following Texas's redistricting, California Democrats are expected to implement their plan pending voter approval in November.
Republicans maintain that Democratic-majority states have long manipulated districting to gain a disproportionate number of congressional seats, necessitating their current response to ensure fair representation.
“We must act to address this environment and counter the tactics that have skewed Congress,” asserted state Sen. Ralph Hise, the chief author of the new map during Senate discussions.
