North Carolina Republicans Advance New Redistricting Maps, Aim to Secure GOP Advantage in Congress and State Legislature

New Senate-approved district boundaries edge closer to passing House, fortifying Republican hold in 2024 elections following recent court rulings favoring partisan gerrymandering.

The North Carolina Republicans are advancing new Senate-approved redistricting maps aiming to solidify GOP advantage in Congress and State Legislature, driven by recent court rulings favoring partisan gerrymandering.
The proposed maps aim at optimizing GOP prospects in a narrowly divided Congress and securing control over state General Assembly for the coming decade, with both Senate and House expected to approve these maps by Wednesday.
The state Supreme Court, now with a Republican majority, determined that the state constitution imposes no limitations on redrawing boundary lines for partisan benefit. The U.S. Supreme Court also declared in 2019 that partisan gerrymandering claims were not subject to federal court review.
These new maps could potentially lead to the GOP gaining at least three seats in Congress, primarily at the expense of first and second-term Democrats. In the state's current political scenario, Republicans have a 221-212 seat advantage over Democrats in the House.
Critics, including Democratic Governor Roy Cooper, see these maps as a GOP power play, suppressing minority voters and unreflective of the political balance of North Carolina, a typically closely contested state in elections. Current redistricting maps approved by the General Assembly are not subject to Cooper's vetoes.