'Sheer insanity': NC Republicans on track to pass gerrymandered map erasing 4 Democratic districts

Republicans in North Carolina appear poised to pass one of the most extreme redistricting maps in the US, with little in the way of opposition.

Last week, WUNC reported that Republicans' proposed new maps are much more favorable to the GOP than the court-drawn maps used in 2022, which split representation evenly with both Democrats and Republicans having seven House seats apiece. The new proposed maps would instead give Republicans 10 safe seats, carve out three safe seats for Democrats, and give Republicans the advantage in a red-leaning district. Cook Political Report senior editor Dave Wasserman posted on X that the new maps would effectively eliminate four Democratic districts.

In addition to the advantages the new proposed maps would give Republicans in Congress, the maps would also lock in Republicans' majorities in the North Carolina legislature, likely for the remainder of the decade. Democratic state representative Lindsey Prather responded to the new proposed maps by calling for an independent redistricting process.

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"I want to take a second & acknowledge the sheer insanity that is #ncpol," Rep. Prather posted, using the hashtag for North Carolina politics. "We need nonpartisan, independent redistricting. We shouldn't be waiting w/bated breath for maps that were drawn in secret. This shouldn't be exciting. It should be a boring thing that happens every 10 years."

While Democratic Governor Roy Cooper is expected to veto the maps, Republicans have a large enough legislative majority to override him, meaning the federal judiciary is the only remaining hurdle the maps need to clear in order to go into effect.

Even though conservatives in the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has a 6-3 majority, the Court struck down a gerrymandered Congressional map in Alabama, forcing Republicans to have at least two House districts for residents of predominantly Black counties. Republicans initially attempted to resist the Court's order, but SCOTUS had a special master draw a map with two districts for its Black residents, who make up roughly 1/4 of the state's population.

READ MORE: Watchdogs slam new GOP-led rule that lets NC lawmakers dodge transparency