The state Legislature today approved new congressional maps that were redrawn to favor the Republican Party in the 2026 midterm elections.
The House of Representatives voted along party lines by a 66-48 vote to give final approval to the new maps in a rare redistricting process that lasted just three days amid protests and voices against it during debates and the only two public hearings.
House Speaker Destin Hall, a Republican, ordered the galleries to be cleared moments before the final vote due to protests from attendees who were shouting, “don’t rig the maps.”
The new congressional map presented by the Republican leaders of the Legislature modifies the competitive District 1, in the northeast part of the state, to make it a more Republican-friendly district.
District 1 is currently represented by Democrat Don Davis, who won the election in 2024 by a narrow margin of less than 2 percent.
The new boundaries of District 1 include several counties from what District 3 was, which is represented by Republican Greg Murphy.
The change would give Republicans a 55 to 44 percent advantage in District 1, according to the 2024 presidential election vote, that is the possibility of unseating Davis in 2026.
North Carolina has 14 representatives in Congress, 10 Republicans and 4 Democrats, but with the new maps, they could reach an 11-3 lead.
POLITICAL DEBATE
Republican leaders in the Legislature said they decided to change the congressional maps because they want to help President Donald Trump maintain control of Congress by adding one more Republican seat for the state.
“The motivation behind this plan to redraw congressional maps is simple. The new electoral map enhances Republican political strength in eastern North Carolina and will bring an additional Republican seat to North Carolina’s congressional delegation,” said Republican Rep. Brenden Jones as he opened the debate in the House of Representatives.
The plan is part of a national strategy by Trump and Republicans to maintain control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the midterm elections.
Texas recently amended its congressional maps, creating five new Republican-friendly districts, prompting a response from California’s Democratic governor, Gavin Newson, who announced special elections in November to approve new congressional maps in that state, which would add more Democratic seats in Congress.
“We’re here today because California and the radical left launched a full-blown attack, not just against North Carolina, but against the integrity of democracy itself,” Jones said.
Democrats accused Republicans of obeying President Trump’s orders instead of listening to the voices of North Carolina’s citizens whom they represent.
“A sitting president has asked states to rig their districts to avoid accountability in the midterm elections and here we are, answering that call,” said Rep. Beth Helfrich, Democrat from Mecklenburg. “But by forcing this process, do you know what calls we’re refusing to answer? Yours,” she said, pointing to the audience in the galleries.
“We have asked the public to submit their comments on these proposed maps, and they have answered the call. As of 10:30 this morning we had received 12,280 comments, I have them printed here, and at no point in this process have their inputs been considered. I think that calls into question the entire integrity of these proceedings,” Helfrich said.
During the process to approve the new maps, which began Monday in the Senate and ended Wednesday in the House of Representatives, there were only two public hearings in which dozens of people spoke against the map proposed by Republican leaders.
Finally, the plan was approved with the majority votes of Republicans who control both chambers of the Legislature and according to election law, the governor has no veto power in this matter so the new maps will be used in the next elections.
