The recently redrawn congressional map in North Carolina has the potential to disrupt the Democrats’ strategy of using redistricting to regain the House majority in the upcoming 2024 elections.
With the Supreme Court declining Alabama’s Republican-drawn map and a federal judge requiring Georgia to redraw its maps for better representation of black voters, the situation in North Carolina adds another challenge for the Democrats.
The GOP-controlled state legislature in North Carolina recently approved a new congressional map, which, if upheld, could result in the Democrats losing up to four congressional seats.
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Currently, the state’s 14 congressional seats are evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans, but the GOP holds both Senate seats.
North Carolina’s Democratic Governor, Roy Cooper, has criticized the new map as “gerrymandering on steroids.”
He anticipates that the maps will be challenged in court, reflecting the ongoing battle over redistricting in the state. This would mark the fourth time Democrats have challenged GOP-drawn maps in North Carolina since 2010, with previous maps being deemed unconstitutional or redrawn.
Democrats and various groups are currently considering the legal strategies for challenging the new maps. One option is to invoke the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA), which requires fair minority representation in redistricting.
Another approach could involve a 14th Amendment challenge, citing racial gerrymandering. The logistics of the case are still being negotiated, and the decision will have long-term implications for the Democrats’ redistricting efforts.
Some Democrats acknowledge that challenging the maps will be a “long game.” They are prepared to fight using the VRA if necessary.
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“If they’re going to make me go fight them on the VRA, I absolutely plan on it,” North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton told the Washignton Post.
Republicans in North Carolina appear confident in their newly drawn maps and anticipate that the maps will withstand legal challenges, emphasizing that they reflect the political balance based on how people live in the state.
“This is the political balance based off of how people live in North Carolina, and these are fair and legal maps and I think they’ll be upheld if they’re challenged,” North Carolina GOP Rep. Patrick McHenry told the Washignton Post.
“The Democrats’ playbook has been sue-till-you’re-blue for the whole decade, so I’m sure they’ll challenge,” Richard Hudson, North Carolina congressman and the chair of the House GOP’s campaign arm, told the Washington Post.
The outcome of the redistricting battle in North Carolina could significantly impact the 2024 election. Former President Donald Trump has won the state twice and is currently polling ahead of President Joe Biden in the battleground state.
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