New congressional district boundaries in eastern North Carolina counties received final legislative approval October 22, just one week after the public first saw the new map.
State Republicans drew the plan at the behest of President Donald Trump. It seeks to make what is now the state’s only toss-up district unwinnable for a Democrat, bringing the state’s 14-member congressional delegation from 10 Republicans and four Democrats to 11 Republicans and three Democrats. The remaining Democratic districts are in the Triangle and in Charlotte.
Trump has asked states under Republican control to change district boundaries to help elect more members of their party to Congress. Trump seeks to avoid a midterm slump that would erect roadblocks to his agenda.
The House approved the maps 66-48 along party lines, following the Senate’s party-line approval Tuesday. Redistricting maps are not subject to veto by the governor, so they are now law.
“We’ll be sending another strong conservative to Washington to represent this great state,” said Rep. Brenden Jones (R-Columbus), the House Republican leader.
Rep. Jimmy Dixon (R-Duplin) said Trump is the greatest president of his lifetime, and lawmakers are doing the right thing by helping him continue to implement his vision for the country.
“I witnessed the divine intervention in preserving his life,” Dixon said. “He is a divinely changed man who loves this nation. I support the constitutional authority of this legislature to legally redraw our congressional districts.”
The gallery was cleared of protesters chanting about racist maps before the House vote.
The redrawn map dismantles a bloc of Black rural voters who have helped elect a Black Democrat to Congress since 1992. U.S. Rep. Don Davis, a former state Senator, overcame a stiff Republican challenge to win his second term last year.
Republicans have said much about their partisan motives, but claimed repeatedly this week that no racial data was used to draw the districts.
Critics have responded that Republicans know they are weakening the chance that Black voters in the region will be able to elect the candidate of their choice.
“You didn’t need to use racial data because every single member of this body knows about the Black population in the northeastern part of this state,” said Rep. Gloristine Brown (D-Pitt).
“North Carolina is the testing ground for the new era of Jim Crow laws,” she said. “You are silencing Black voices and going against the will of your constituents.”
The 1st Congressional District as it was configured for last year’s election is part of an unresolved federal lawsuit over claims that it dilutes the power of Black voters. Another lawsuit over the new district plan is anticipated. Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell), who said he drew the new districts, was confident the plan would withstand a legal challenge.
An online portal received 12,280 comments about the new map since last week, said Rep. Beth Helfrich (D-Mecklenburg). She brought to the House floor a stack of printed comments to illustrate the public interest in the redistricting plan. Nearly all the comments were negative, she said.
“At no point in these proceedings has their input been meaningfully considered,” she said.
Davis is known as one of the most conservative Democrats in the U.S. House who has worked with congressional Republicans representing eastern North Carolina. He also worked with Republicans during his time in the legislature.
Reives reminded Republicans that they are trying to end the congressional career of a Democrat they liked. “Don Davis busted his behind when he was here to work both sides,” Reives said. “He busted his behind to compromise. And he’s going home.”