Home Local News Latest N.C. congressional map slices Orange, peels eastward

Latest N.C. congressional map slices Orange, peels eastward

ROCKINGHAM — The latest version of a remedial congressional map takes out a Triangle county from the district that includes Richmond and extends it further east.

According to a map on the General Assembly’s website, the 9th Congressional District now includes Richmond, Anson, Union, Stanly, Montgomery, Moore, Hoke, Scotland and Robeson counties, as well as southern Davidson and western Columbus counties.

A version of the map tweeted out Tuesday by state Rep. Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, joined Orange County and the eastern half of Chatham County with Richmond, Scotland, Anson, Union, Stanly, Montgomery, Moore and Lee.

Hall is the chairman of the redistricting committee.

That map caught a bit of criticism for gerrymandering and calls for maps to be drawn by an independent committee.

Richmond is currently part of the 9th Congressional District, which also includes other counties mostly along the U.S. 74 corridor: Anson, Scotland, Robeson and Union counties, as well as parts of Mecklenburg, Bladen and Cumberland counties.

The map struck by the N.C. Supreme Court had District 9 comprising mainly Charlotte, while Richmond — along with Union, Anson, Hoke, Moore, Montgomery, Scotland and Stanly counties and eastern Mecklenburg — made up the redrawn 8th Congressional District.

Congressman Dan Bishop, who lives in Mecklenburg County, represents the 9th District.

The latest map places his residence in the 14th Congressional District, which combines southwestern Mecklenburg with Gaston and Cleveland counties and eastern Rutherford County.

Bishop previously told the RO that he planned to move in the district that includes Richmond which includes about 85% of the population he currently represents and has spent the past two years interacting with.

During the Republican primary for a special election for the 9th District, which was won by Bishop, half of the 10 candidates were from outside the district. However, a quirk in the U.S. Constitution doesn’t require members of the U.S. House of Representatives to live in the district they’re elected to represent, only the state.

If Bishop does move, that could leave the 14th District door open for state House Speaker Tim Moore, a Cleveland County Republican, who has reportedly been considering a Congressional run.

The Gaston Gazette reported that Moore had decided against it several months back, but may have changed his mind.

“Many folks have continually asked me to consider running to represent our region of the state in Congress,” Moore said in a statement to McClatchy (the company that owns the Raleigh News & Observer and the Charlotte Observer), the Gazette reported. “I am honored, but I am focused right now on getting these maps approved by the courts, fighting school mask mandates, and leading the House of Representatives. I will make a final decision once the maps are approved.”

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The other half of Mecklenburg is left to Democratic Congresswoman Alma Adams.

Congressman Richard Hudson, a Republican who once represented Richmond County, would keep his home county of Cabarrus, along with most of Rowan and northern Davidson.

The court gave the General Assembly until Feb.18 to redraw the congressional maps, as well as the legislative maps for state House and Senate. 

The General Assembly passed the legislative maps on Thursday.

While Democrats agreed with the House districts, none voted for the Senate or Congressional maps.

“At the beginning of this process, we were told Democrats wanted competitive maps. We honored that request even though it was clear they would vote against the maps,” Sen. Paul Newton (R-Cabarrus), the chairman of the Senate Redistricting Committee, said in a press release. “Given the circumstances, we’ve been able to introduce maps that are constitutionally compliant and respond well to the court-mandated tests. Now North Carolina will be home to some of the most competitive congressional races in the nation.”

N.C. State Democratic Party Chair Bobbie Richardson praised the bipartisanship with the House maps, but chided Republicans on the other two.

“North Carolina House Democrats and Republicans successfully worked together to pass a state House map they feel is largely consistent with the court’s ruling on partisan constitutionality,” Richardson said in a statement. “This map is the product of good faith cooperation, which stands in stark contrast to the state Senate and Congressional maps. 

“Republicans refused to work in good faith with Democrats to draw state Senate and Congressional maps which remedy unconstitutional partisan gerrymandering,” Richardson continued. “Now all three maps will go to the Court which will decide how best to proceed. But one thing is certain — Legislative Democrats have never faltered in their commitment to fighting for the right of voters to choose who represents them.”

Election filing was halted by an unsigned order from the state Supreme Court just three days into the period due to ongoing legal challenges of the maps. However, it is currently slated to resume Feb. 24.

 



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Managing Editor William R. Toler is an award-winning writer and photographer with experience in print, television and online media.