North Carolina is known as a “purple” state, meaning it has nearly equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans. People expect their voices to be fairly represented in Congress. However, the state’s Republican-led legislature recently drew new election maps that unfairly benefited Republicans, tipping the balance of power in Washington, D.C., and helping Republicans take control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The old map, which split seats equally with 7 Democrats and 7 Republicans, reflected the state’s true political makeup. It was fair and made voters feel like their voices mattered. But that changed when the Republicans pushed through a new map that gave them a 10-4 advantage in the U.S. House. That means 71% of North Carolina’s seats went to Republicans, and most of these districts were not competitive.
This change wasn’t accidental. The new map was designed to help Republicans maintain power. If the map had been fair, three North Carolina Democratic representatives would have returned to Washington, possibly helping Democrats keep control of the House.
The Republicans in Raleigh didn’t care about representing the people. They used their power to draw maps that would give them more seats, regardless of what voters wanted. This is why I am supporting the Fair Maps Act, a bill to create independent, nonpartisan redistricting commissions in every state. These commissions would draw fair maps without political influence.
Research shows that independent redistricting works. Studies from Duke University and other groups show that it results in maps that better represent the true political balance of a state. This isn’t about giving one party an edge—it’s about fairness and restoring trust in our democracy.
Gerrymandering, where politicians manipulate voting districts to gain an advantage, has real consequences. In this case, it shifted control of the U.S. House to Republicans. We can’t let this happen again.
Although I won’t return to Congress due to this unfair process, I’m still fighting for fair voting maps. The people of North Carolina and the entire country deserve better—a fair system that reflects their votes and a democracy they can trust. It’s time to end gerrymandering once and for all.
Blue & Gold NLR Team is a dedicated journalist at blueandgoldnlr.com, where he provides insightful and up-to-date news coverage. With a passion for uncovering the truth and a commitment to delivering accurate information, Blue & Gold NLR Team brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the team. His work ensures readers stay informed about the latest events and developments.