Republicans advance the mid-decade redistricting fight into swing-state North Carolina

"North Carolina is poised to become the first swing state to draw new congressional districts amid a nationwide arms race between Republicans and Democrats to secure additional seats ahead of next year's midterm election. President Trump initiated the mid-decade battle to help the GOP keep control of the U.S. House. In North Carolina, Republican legislative leaders announced last week they wanted to redraw the map with the aim of winning 11 of the state's 14 congressional districts."

"To accomplish that, Republicans focused on the 1st Congressional District, in the northeastern corner of the state. The 1st is the state's only swing district and has been represented by Black lawmakers for decades, most recently two-term U.S. Rep. Don Davis, a Democrat. The proposed map moves six coastal counties and some precincts in another county into the 1st Congressional District, making it more conservative."

"Opponents argue that the new map dilutes the voting power of Black residents in eastern North Carolina. "These maps are a political weapon, and Black voters are the target," said Sen. Kandie Smith, who along with all 19 of her Democratic colleagues formally protested the new map Monday. The proportion of Black voters in the current 1st District is about 40%, higher than any other in the state. That would drop to 32% under the new map, while the proportion of Black voters in the 3rd District would only rise to 29%."

Republican legislative leaders in North Carolina unveiled a mid-decade redistricting plan aimed at increasing GOP representation from 10 to 11 of the state's 14 congressional seats. The plan concentrates changes on the 1st Congressional District by adding six coastal counties and parts of another county, shifting several agriculture-oriented counties into the 3rd District and making the 1st more conservative. The 1st has been the state's only swing district and historically represented by Black lawmakers, most recently Don Davis. Democrats and Black leaders contend the map dilutes Black voting power; Republicans say the map protects a narrow House majority.

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