A federal three-judge panel on Wednesday allowed North Carolina to use a redrawn congressional map intended to flip a seat to Republicans as part of a broader mid-decade redistricting push ahead of the 2026 midterms. The judges unanimously denied requests for preliminary injunctions after a mid-November hearing in Winston-Salem.
The new map targets the state’s only swing district, the 1st District, now held by Democratic Rep. Don Davis. That seat has been represented by Black members of Congress for more than 30 years. A CBS News analysis cited by plaintiffs found the redrawn 1st would lower its Democratic share from about 48% to roughly 44%. Separate litigation alleges the Black voting-age population in the 1st would fall from 40% under the 2023 map to 32% under the newest plan.
Republican-controlled legislators moved counties with substantial Black and typically Democratic populations into the neighboring 3rd District, represented by Republican Greg Murphy. Recent election results suggest both districts would be more favorable to Republicans under the new lines. Republicans currently hold 10 of North Carolina’s 14 U.S. House seats and hope the changes will net them an 11th. Candidate filing for many 2026 North Carolina races is scheduled to begin Dec. 1.
Multiple lawsuits challenge the revisions. One, filed by the state NAACP, Common Cause and individual voters, contends lawmakers targeted the ‘Black Belt’ in retaliation for political organizing and voting — claims framed as First Amendment violations. Another suit by voters argues using five-year-old Census data for a mid-decade redraw violates the Constitution’s one-person, one-vote principle under the 14th Amendment and that race was improperly used in mapmaking, breaching both the First and 14th Amendments.
Attorneys for the Republican map drafters countered that the goals were partisan, not racial, describing the effort as part of a ‘nationwide partisan redistricting arms race.’ They rejected challenges to using older Census data and accusations of retaliation, arguing those claims conflict with Supreme Court precedent.
The three judges who issued the decision were each appointed by Republican presidents. They recently upheld several other U.S. House districts first enacted in 2023; those lines were used in the 2024 elections and helped contribute to Republican gains of three House seats. Nationally, former President Trump has urged GOP-controlled legislatures to redraw maps mid-decade to protect Republican control of Congress in 2026; similar efforts have taken place in Texas and Missouri. A lower court had frozen Texas’ new map last week, but the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily paused that freeze days later.
By contrast, voters in California recently approved new districts designed to improve Democratic prospects, and the Democratic-led Virginia General Assembly has pursued a redistricting constitutional amendment. Democrats need a net gain of three House seats to win control of the chamber.
North Carolina’s Republican-controlled General Assembly gave final approval to the map changes on Oct. 22; Democratic Gov. Josh Stein’s signature was not required. State Senate leader Phil Berger praised the ruling, saying it thwarts what he called ‘the radical left’s latest attempt to circumvent the will of the people.’ Earlier lawsuits challenging the 2023 map alleged Republicans fractured and packed Black voters to dilute their influence; judges recently dismissed claims against five congressional and three legislative districts, finding plaintiffs had not proven a discriminatory purpose.