NC Legislative Leaders Pass Compliant Maps
NC General Assembly Approves Remedial Maps
-
The NC General Assembly, under the leadership of NC House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) and Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham), has approved new congressional, state senate, and state house election maps. The court order deadline was Friday, February 18th.
- You can access and review the new maps here.
-
These remedial maps fully comply with the Supreme Court's order.
- The remedial maps satisfy every concrete metric contained within the court's order.
- From 'mean/median scores' to 'efficiency gaps,' the map scores are well within the ranges dictated by the court.
-
These remedial maps address the brand new doctrine of 'Partisan Fairness' introduced by this court.
- The remedial Congressional map boasts some of the most competitive districts in the nation.
-
Even so, many Democrats voted against the competitive 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. "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."
-
Based on statewide election results from 2016 and 2020, an analysis the legislature included of the newly proposed Congressional map shows it would likely create six reliably Republican districts, four that are favorable to Democrats and four that are toss-ups.
- In a tweet, Catawba College political expert Dr. Michael Bitzer called the map "shockingly competitive in several ways."
- In a tweet, Catawba College political expert Dr. Michael Bitzer called the map "shockingly competitive in several ways."
-
It's not over: The General Assembly must submit the revised maps to a Superior Court three-judge panel in Wake County to consider.
- If the panel rejects the maps, they could instead adopt maps proposed by other parties in the lawsuit.
- Three 'Special Masters' have been designated to also consider and/or draw maps for the court's consideration.
- The maps, if approved, may also be appealed back to the N.C. Supreme Court.
- Being that these districts are so competitive, if the courts do not approve these legislatively-drawn maps, it will be the clearest signal yet that the judiciary is more interested in partisan activism on behalf of Democrats rather than objective constitutional rulings based on their own guidelines.
- The courts should provide voters with the certainty they deserve by approving these competitive maps and allowing the electoral process to proceed as prescribed in the Constitution.
Courtesy of NCGOP