North Carolina is up next in our redistricting series. Throughout 2021, we'll delve into the states in detail, spotlighting a different state's redistricting outlook each week. Make sure to read our full redistricting outlook.

Current Delegation: 8R, 5D Projected 2022 Seats: 14 (+1) Redistricting Control: Republican

Current Congressional Map

Map credit: Cook Political Report, drawn with Dave's Redistricting App

District-Level Population Analysis

Redistricting Outlook

In North Carolina, redistricting isn't a once-a-decade affair; it's a never-ending fight. Since 1992, it's used eight different congressional maps, including four in the last dozen years alone — all owing to courts overturning maps on racial and partisan gerrymandering grounds. Now, the state is about to gain a 14th district, upping the stakes of an all but certain Democratic lawsuit to invalidate whatever the GOP draws.

As in 2011, Republicans hold exclusive authority to draw new maps, because under a quirk in state law, the governor (a Democrat) has no veto power over redistricting. That means Democrats' only recourse is to sue in friendlier state courts.

Ten years ago, North Carolina was the

More from the Cook Political Report

Amy
First Person
Cook Politcal Logo