“Not a single one of them included a request for a new congressional map redrawing eastern North Carolina.” The map, which Democratic Gov.
Protesters called them “racist maps” at the end of the public comment period of a House committee hearing Tuesday afternoon, as they were escorted out for disrupting the proceedings.
Out of 11,000 public comments submitted to a state House committee, Democratic state Rep. Pricey Harrison said Tuesday, her legislative aide was able to find just three comments in support.
North Carolina is just the latest state where Republican lawmakers have heeded Trump’s call to pursue an aggressive, mid-decade redistricting effort.
In August, Texas lawmakers approved a new map designed to net Republicans an additional five House seats.
A new congressional map was approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature of North Carolina with the intention of further strengthening the party before the midterm elections the following year.
Republicans may receive an extra U if the map is approved by the state House on Wednesday. S. House seat in North Carolina, on a vote of 66-48, nine days after GOP legislative leaders initially declared their intention to hold a vote and one day after the state Senate advanced it.
“The reason for this redraw is straightforward and unique: creating a new map that will give the North Carolina congressional delegation an extra Republican seat,” state Sen. The Republican who created the map, Ralph Hise, informed colleagues during a committee hearing this week.
The First District of North Carolina, which is represented by Democrat Rep., narrowly favored President Donald Trump in the 2024 election. Don Davis would become more Republican-friendly under the new boundaries, as some new Democratic areas would be absorbed by the neighboring 3rd District. Ten of the state’s fourteen districts are presently under Republican control.
“My office has received 46,616 messages from constituents of various political parties, including those who are not affiliated, expressing a range of opinions, views, and requests since the start of this new term,” Davis said in a statement following the state Senate’s Tuesday approval of the map. A request for a new congressional map that redraws eastern North Carolina was not included in any of them. “”.
“The map, which Democratic Gov. With no veto power, Josh Stein’s proposal will now take effect prior to the 2026 elections, when Republicans will try to hold onto their slim House majority.
“I promise you that if I had that authority, I would veto this map,” Stein stated in a video released on Wednesday. “Republican lawmakers are abusing their position of authority to deny you yours. They have turned against you in order to stifle your vote in the 2026 election because they fear losing the midterm elections and are scared to refuse the president. “.”.
Democrats and the public objected to the new map during this week’s committee hearings, claiming it diminished the political influence of Black and Latino voters in order to further Republican objectives.
When the public comment period ended at a House committee hearing Tuesday afternoon, protesters referred to them as “racist maps” and were escorted out for interfering with the hearing.
“All members of this body are aware of the Black population in the northeastern region of this state, so you didn’t need to use racial data,” state Rep. On Wednesday, on the House floor, Gloristine Brown said.
Democrats in the state House submitted 11,000 public comments to a committee. Pricey Harrison stated on Tuesday that her legislative assistant could only locate three comments that were supportive.
Harrison remarked, “I’m having a hard time containing myself because I’m just so angry about what we’re doing to our democracy today.”.
Republicans in North Carolina are the most recent to follow Trump’s directive to undertake a vigorous, mid-decade redistricting campaign. Last week on Truth Social, Trump lauded North Carolina’s “improved” map, stating that it would “allow the wonderful people of North Carolina to elect another MAGA Republican in the 2026 Midterm Elections.”. “,”.
Texas lawmakers adopted a revised map in August that aims to give Republicans five more House seats. Missouri Republicans did the same a month later, presenting a map that made Democratic Rep. The district of Emanuel Cleaver leans Republican.
Republican lawmakers in Indiana and Kansas are thinking about creating new district lines in the meantime. And Ohio, which is controlled by the GOP, must draw new boundaries this year after passing its previous map without the backing of Democrats.
