RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A federal three-judge panel on Wednesday allowed North Carolina to use a redrawn congressional map aimed at flipping a seat to Republicans as part of President Donald Trump’s multistate redistricting campaign ahead of the 2026 elections.
The map specifically targets North Carolina’s only swing seat currently held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Don Davis, who represents over 20 counties in the northeastern part of the state. This district has been continuously represented by Black members of Congress for over three decades.
The judges unanimously rejected requests for a preliminary injunction after a mid-November hearing, upholding other redrawn congressional districts previously enacted by GOP lawmakers in 2023, which allowed Republicans to gain three additional seats in the House.
North Carolina has joined other states this year in defying century-old political traditions by redrawing congressional maps mid-decade, aiming to maintain Republican control. Amidst these changes, Democrats need just three additional seats to regain power in the House.
The newly approved map has sparked debates about racial disparities in election representation. Critics, including the NAACP, have claimed the changes violate constitutional rights, as they allegedly dilute the Black voting population in pivotal districts.
As the litigation against the October changes unfolds, North Carolina Republicans assert that the adjustments were made to enhance political representation rather than to suppress votes based on race. Furthermore, the state GOP hopes to leverage electoral advantages based on North Carolina's strong support for Trump in the last three elections.
With candidate filing scheduled to start on December 1, the political stakes continue to rise as both parties prepare for fiercely contested races in 2026.
