Republicans Release New Draft Congressional Maps

Today, the Republican-led North Carolina General Assembly released the new proposed draft Congressional maps. As we previously reported, Republicans in the General Assembly announced their plans to redistrict North Carolina to counter Democrats’ redistricting efforts.  

First look at t partisan composition of North Carolina’s map using Dave’s Redistricting App

The initial analysis from the Blue Ridge Times shows that the proposed map would have three districts that lean heavily toward the Democrats, eight districts that lean heavily Republican, and two districts that could be considered battlegrounds, with a distinctively Republican lean. This is the data pulled from Dave’s Redistricting App on the initial draft maps. This is mostly built on data from the 2016 and 2020 elections, but it gives a general understanding of the partisan composition of the districts.  

The key difference between this map and the previous one is that North Carolina’s First Congressional District shifts from a Biden +3 district to a Trump +4. That seven-point swing may well prevent Democrat Congressman Don Davis from securing reelection, especially given his long voting record of siding with Biden. If this map is enacted, North Carolina would likely have eleven Republican House members, instead of ten.  

The General Assembly is now collecting public comments about the new maps. Click here to send your own comment. Both chambers of the legislature will consider the new maps next week.