North Carolina Republicans Redraw congressional Map, Targeting โคDemocratic Rep. Jeff โฃDavis
RALEIGH, N.C. – โฃ North Carolina Republicans โคon Wednesday finalized a newโ congressional โขmap widely expected โto bolster the โคparty’s chances of gaining a seat in the U.S. House, drawing immediate โขcondemnation from Democrats who vow a legal challenge. โThe redrawn map significantly altersโ the 1st District,โข currently held by Democratic Rep.Jeff Davis, who narrowly won reelectionโ in a district also carried byโ Donald Trump in 2022.
The legislation passed along party lines, despite protests from hundreds of Democratic and liberal activists who gathered at the state legislative complex thisโ week. Republicans maintain the changes were madeโ to reflect the state’s โpolitical leanings,citing Trump’s three victories in North Carolina presidential electionsโฃ as justification for increased GOP depiction in Congress.
“Under the law and in conjunction with basically listening to the will of โฃthe people,” it is appropriate to adjustโ districts, said Senate leader Phil Berger.
Though, Democratsโฃ argue the map is a โขpartisan gerrymander designed to โbenefit republicans and is racially motivated. โFormer U.S. โขattorney General Eric Holder, leading the nationalโ Democratic party’s redistricting efforts, stated theโข map “will be challenged in court.”
Davis, who won his second term by less than 2 percentage points, called the โคnew mapโ “beyond โthe pale” but intends to run for reelection in 2026, either in theโฃ redrawn 1st โDistrict or the neighboring 3rd District representedโ by GOP Rep. Gregโข Murphy.
The 1st District was one of 13 nationwideโ where Trump won the presidential vote while โฃa โDemocrat held the House seat,โข according to the University of Virginia’sโ Center forโ Politics. North Carolina โคGovernorโฃ Roy Cooper, โคa Democrat, has indicated he would veto the map ifโค he had the authority.
During Wednesday’s โdebate,General Assembly police removed dozens of protesters from the House โคgallery who disrupted proceedings. House โขminority leader Robert Reives warned Republican colleagues they coudl becomeโข targets of theโค same partisan tactics being used against Davis โขif they deviate โfrom the party โline.