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By Jenna Sundel and Amanda Castro
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North Carolina Republican legislative leaders announced Monday they will vote next week on a new congressional map that could secure an additional GOP seat in the state’s U.S. House delegation.
Why It Matters
The move follows a call from President Donald Trump urging Republican-led legislatures to reshape U.S. House districts to help Republicans win more seats in the upcoming midterm elections. Texas Republicans redrew the state's districts to give their party a chance to win five more seats. The new map is facing a legal challenge.
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Some Democratic-led legislatures have countered those efforts by redistricting in their states as well. Democrats in California passed their own redistricting plan to help their party win five additional seats. The plan still needs voter approval in a November 4 election to take effect.
Democrats need to gain just three seats to take control of the House in the 2026 election. The president’s party historically loses seats in midterm elections.
North Carolina Redistricting Vote: What We Know
The announcement was made via a press release from Senate leader Phil Berger’s office. Berger's office said the vote will be held during the previously scheduled October legislative session "to block the efforts of blue state Democrats to take control of Congress from Republicans."
"President Trump delivered countless victories during his first term in office, and nine months into his second term, he continues to achieve unprecedented wins. We are doing everything we can to protect President Trump’s agenda, which means safeguarding Republican control of Congress," Berger said in a statement.
Trump “earned a clear mandate from the voters of North Carolina and the rest of the country, and we intend to defend it by drawing an additional Republican Congressional seat,” House Speaker Destin Hal said in the release.
The North Carolina Democratic Party wrote on X, "If you needed confirmation that the @NCGOP will do anything for Trump’s approval & to stay in power, here it is. They just agreed to gerrymander our maps."
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DNC Chair Ken Martin called the move "corruption at its worst" in a statement sent to Newsweek.
"Senator Phil Berger decided to secure his own dishonest backroom deal and throw North Carolinians under the bus in the process. North Carolinians deserve fair congressional maps, and Republicans’ plan to deny their own constituents won’t be tolerated by the people they were elected to represent," Martin said.
Martin said the DNC stands with North Carolina Democrats "who are fighting tooth and nail for fair representation."
In 2022, the state's 14 U.S. House seats were split 7-7 between Democrats and Republicans. A new map was created in 2023, and Republicans won 10 seats in the following year's election.
A seat held by Democratic Representative Don Davis is considered a swing district. Davis was reelected to a second term last year by less than 2 percentage points.
What is Redistricting?
Redistricting is the process by which states redraw or redefine legislative district boundaries on the federal, state, and local jurisdiction levels, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The U.S. House of Representatives and state legislatures redistrict every 10 years after the U.S. Census Bureau collects and compiles new population data. Litigation or changes in how jurisdictions are managed can lead to redistricting happening at any time, but some states have constitutional bans on mid-decade redistricting.
What is Gerrymandering?
The word “gerrymander” was coined over 200 years ago to describe political manipulation in legislative map-making.
The term originated in 1812, after Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry signed a bill redrawing state Senate districts to benefit the Democratic-Republican Party. A newspaper illustration dubbed it “The Gerry-mander” for its resemblance to a salamander.
What People Are Saying
Senate Leader Phil Berger, in a statement: "Picking up where Texas left off, we will hold votes in our October session to redraw North Carolina’s congressional map to ensure Gavin Newsom doesn’t decide the congressional majority.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom, on X: "Oh look, another lap dog Republican desperate to suck up to Trump. The GOP is rigging elections and trying to cover it up with lies. Americans are not that stupid, Phil. This started in Texas — and if North Carolina gives in, CALIFORNIA PATRIOTS WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR AMERICA"
What Happens Next
Berger's press office said the state's General Assembly plans to return to Raleigh to consider a new Congressional map next week.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
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Update 10/14/25 3:01 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from DNC Chair Ken Martin.
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