RALEIGH — North Carolina’s new congressional district map became law Wednesday after final passage by the House in a 66-48 vote down partisan lines. The maps received their final approval by the Senate the previous day. The new maps do not require the signature of Gov. Josh Stein.
Two of the state’s 14 districts are altered by the new map: The 1st District, held by Congressman Don Davis (D-Snow Hill), and the 3rd District, held by Greg Murphy (R-Greenville).
The proposed map shifts six counties from Murphy’s district to Davis’ district: Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Dare, Hyde and Pamlico. Additionally, four counties would shift from Davis’ district to Murphy’s: Greene, Lenoir, Wayne and Wilson, as well as a small portion of Swansboro in Onslow County.
While introducing the maps, Rep. Brenden Jones (R-Columbus) was interrupted by shouts from the gallery until House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Granite Falls) intervened, reminding attendees not to interrupt.
“Once again, we’re here today because California, the radical left, launched a full-fledged, coordinated attack not only on North Carolina but the integrity of democracy itself,” Jones said. “And I’ve got bad news for Gavin Newsom and the radical left: North Carolina will not stand by while they try to undermine the will of our voters and stack the decks in Washington.”
Newsom and Democrats pledged to redraw California’s congressional map after Texas Republicans shifted lines to benefit the GOP. Missouri also took on redistricting to benefit Republicans, which Trump has encouraged to secure his party’s majority in Congress in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections.
Jones enumerated the steps taken in creating the maps, remarking that the “the motivation behind this plan is straightforward.”
“It moves N.C.-1 from a district where President (Donald) Trump earned 51% of the vote in 2024 to 55% of the vote, an increase of 4 points,” said Jones. “The end result is a Congressional map that should perform to elect 11 Republicans.
“We did our job transparently, lawfully and unapologetically. And if that offends the left, so be it. Because what we’re defending here today is not just a map; it’s the principle that stops the deck from being stacked against us.”
House Democrats pushed back, with Rep. Dante Pittman (D-Wilson) pointing at Texas as the cause.
“What started as a political power play in Texas has turned into a national redistricting war, and my home and my people have been drug into the middle of it,” Pittman said.
Democrats Reps Pricey Harrison (D-Guilford) and Marica Morey (D-Durham) argued the maps were racist and diluted the black vote, while Rep. Gloristine Brown (D-Pitt) compared the redraw to a new form of “Jim Crow.”
“North Carolina is the testing ground for the new era of Jim Crow laws going after souls to the polls, restricting early voting dates, hours and locations, and now breaking up the black belt that has been electing black Democrats for three decades,” Brown said.
Several Democrats, including Rep. Amos Quick (D-Guilford), said there were other priorities that should be the focus of the legislature, such as a lack of a state budget.
Quick said Stein had more of a mandate than President Donald Trump in North Carolina, since he got more votes than Trump in the 2024 election, arguing that “instead of pressing President Trump’s agenda in North Carolina, we ought to be voting for Gov. Stein’s budget.”
Rep. Jimmy Dixon (R-Duplin) balked at criticism that Republicans were doing Trump’s bidding.
“Yesterday I was told what I should not do,” Dixon said. “I was told what my motives are. None of those who called my cell phone and left hateful and vulgar messages asked me what my motives were. They just told me over and over again how right they were and how much they hated Donald Trump. I respect and sustain their right to say that. But I’m left to observe how some folks who demand tolerance do it so intolerantly. I will now exercise my elected responsibility to speak for myself. I love President Trump, and I sustain him as the leader of our nation.”
Nearly 13,000 public comments had been received at the time the House held its morning session vote.
After voting concluded, Reps. Mary Belk (D-Mecklenburg), Deb Butler (D-New Hanover), Zac Hawkins (D-Durham) and Rodney Pierce (D-Halifax) rose and indicated they wished to “raise a constitutional challenge, under Article 2, Section 18.”
In a statement on X, Davis criticized the legislature for prioritizing the “predetermining the outcome of an election 377 days away” over other concerns
“It is not only one of the darkest moments in our state’s history, but the way it was done offering limited public participation by those affected and ignoring the voices of those who did participate is morally wrong on all fronts,” wrote Davis. “Still, I remain committed to ensuring every voice in eastern North Carolina is heard, no matter how the lines are drawn.”
“Today, the Republican leadership in the legislature failed the people of North Carolina,” Stein wrote in a post on X, which included a video message that accused the legislature of “abusing its power” in passing the new map. He also criticized lawmakers for not yet passing a budget and said if he had the power to veto the map, he would.
North Carolina Republican Party Communications Director Matt Mercer applauded the passage in a statement, saying, “We commend our legislative leaders on their effort to jump into the fray to stop Gavin Newsom and California Democrats from stealing control of Congress from President Trump and Republicans.”
