RALEIGH – Last week, a three-judge federal panel struck down a North Carolina congressional district map, making it the first time in the nation’s history such action has been taken over political gerrymandering.
The redistricting plan court challenge began as two cases, but was eventually lumped into a single case. The original complaints were brought by Common Cause and the League of Women Voters of North Carolina.
“We find that the General Assembly drew and enacted the 2016 plan with intent to subordinate the interests of non-Republican voters and entrench Republican control of North Carolina’s congressional delegation,” wrote U.S. Circuit Court Judge Jim Wynn in the majority opinion.
The findings also stated, “We further find that a variety of evidence demonstrates that the 2016 Plan achieved the General Assembly’s discriminatory partisan objective.”
As part of this week’s filing, the judges have ordered the General Assembly to approve a new map of districts by January 24. Candidate filing begins for this November’s election on February 12. The judges have indicated that a redistricting expert will be engaged to draw new maps if the legislature refuses to do so.
Also contained within the recently filed opinion, on page 16, is a reference from Representative David Lewis, Co-Chair of the Redistricting Committee and Chairman of the House Rules Committee.
Lewis stated that he, “proposed that the Committee draw the maps to give a partisan advantage to 10 Republicans and three Democrats because he did not believe it would be possible to draw a map with 11 Republicans and two Democrats.”
“What is key to note is that while North Carolina is approximately 50-50 Democrat and Republican, a purple state in many measures, the Republican legislators drew maps in such a contorted way that 10 Republicans were practically guaranteed election and Democrats were limited to three districts (Districts 1,4 and 12),” explained Wayne Goodwin, North Carolina Democratic Party Chairman.
Map of North Carolina’s 9th District which includes Richmond County (Public Domain).
“This ruling is a major victory for North Carolina and people across the state whose voices were silenced by Republicans’ unconstitutional attempts to rig the system to their partisan advantage,” Goodwin continued. “It’s time the General Assembly put partisanship aside and draw fair, non-partisan maps that give North Carolina voters a voice.”
Goodwin stressed that, “North Carolina voters, no matter their party preference, do not want rigged elections; they want choices and a fair, competitive process.”
Mark Harris (R), a candidate for congress in the state’s 9th district had the following to say regarding the situation:
“While we disagree with this ruling and believe it to be another example of judicial activism run amok, based on what we are hearing from judicial and redistricting experts, as well as our legislative leaders, we feel confident that the Supreme Court will stay the ruling and our election will proceed as scheduled with no changes to the 9th Congressional District.”
Harris will face incumbent Congressman Robert Pittenger (R, 9th District) in a special primary election this May.
Dan McCready (D), is running for the 9th district seat this year. Following the ruling on Tuesday night McCready stated, “For too long, politicians in Raleigh and Washington have taken advantage of rigged maps to stay in power and limit our voices. The court’s ruling is clear – that abuse of power isn’t just wrong, it’s against the law.
“The people of North Carolina are ready for representatives who will listen to them and fight for them,” McCready continued. “No matter what the courts rule, we’re going to keep fighting to ensure the people, not special interests, have the power again in Congress.”
For further details on this developing story with potential election ramifications, continue to follow the Richmond Observer’s coverage.
