North Carolina GOP Moves to Redraw Congressional Maps

Thu Oct 23 2025 06:10:02 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

North Carolina Republican leaders aim to reshape congressional districts, potentially gaining an extra seat for the party in the upcoming midterm elections.

Republican legislators in North Carolina are set to finalize a new congressional map aimed at increasing GOP representation. The proposed changes are designed to secure an additional Republican seat and strengthen President Trump's influence in Congress. The modifications target the district represented by Democrat Don Davis and have sparked significant backlash from Democratic lawmakers and voting rights advocates, who label them as attempts at racial gerrymandering.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Republican leaders in North Carolina are advancing plans to reshape the state's congressional districts ahead of critical midterm elections, aspiring to secure an extra seat for their party.

The reworked map, likely to face opposition, intends to challenge the reelection prospects of Democratic U.S. Rep. Don Davis, whose district spans more than 20 counties in northeastern North Carolina. State Senate Republicans have already approved the redistricting plan along party lines as they prepare for the House vote.

GOP leaders stress that their strategy aligns with previous calls from Trump to tighten Republican seats nationwide, aiming to maintain dominance in Congress. As the Democrats seek only a net gain of three seats to regain control of the House, the stakes of this new map are significant. The Democrats are expected to fight back with lawsuits to halt the potential redistricting.

The modification will exchange parts of Davis' 1st District with a coastal district and, if passed, could give Republicans control over 11 of North Carolina's 14 congressional seats, increasing from the current ten seats they hold.

Davis, one of three Black representatives from North Carolina, criticized the proposal as “beyond the pale,” warning that it could dilute the representation of his constituents. Critics argue that the map could violate racial fairness standards set out by the Voting Rights Act.

Activists and Democratic leaders have decried the redistricting plan as a thinly veiled power grab, with protests erupting at legislative sessions. Albany Ziegler from Democracy Out Loud chastised Republicans for aligning themselves with Trump's agenda, alleging the tactic compromises the democratic process.

Nonetheless, GOP leaders defend their choice, citing Trump’s narrow victories in North Carolina and asserting their actions reflect the will of the electorate. They insist the new district lines are legal and not motivated by racial biases—directly contradicting the opposition's claims of intentional gerrymandering.