A three-judge panel in North Carolina rejected a challenge to the state’s new redistricting plans, ruling that the plaintiffs failed to prove discrimination against Black voters. The judges stated that there was no direct evidence showing lawmakers intended to target Black North Carolinians and concluded instead that the 2025 redistricting was motivated by partisan goals. This decision keeps North Carolina at the center of an intensifying national battle over mid-decade redistricting.
Republican lawmakers in North Carolina advanced a new congressional map that would likely give the GOP control of 11 of the state’s 14 House seats, up from the current 10. The map targets the district held by Democratic Rep. Don Davis and aligns North Carolina with states like Texas and Missouri, where GOP-controlled legislatures have pursued aggressive redraws. Supporters argue the new map reflects former President Trump’s continued success in the state. Because North Carolina’s governor cannot veto redistricting plans, the proposal is expected to move quickly through the legislature.
Nationwide, President Trump and his allies are pressuring Republican-led states to create more GOP-leaning districts to secure a House majority. Texas and Missouri have already adopted new maps—both facing legal challenges—while other Republican states consider similar moves. With the GOP controlling full state governments in 23 states, compared to 15 for Democrats, Republicans currently hold a structural advantage in the redistricting process.