GOP legislative leaders’ plan to manipulate NC congressional maps at Trump’s urging ahead of 2026 elections defies strong public opposition to gerrymandering

RALEIGH, NC – Republican legislative leaders today announced their shameful plan to further gerrymander North Carolina’s congressional maps to placate demands from President Trump and Washington, D.C., politicians.

The following is a statement from Bob Phillips, Executive Director of Common Cause North Carolina:

“At a time when North Carolina is one of only four states in America without a state budget, it’s an insult to the citizens of our state that lawmakers are prioritizing rigging a congressional map over meeting the needs of the people by passing a budget.

And the gerrymanderers know better. Senator Berger was once a champion of redistricting reform – putting his name on comprehensive redistricting reform no less than a half-dozen times when his party was out of power. Senator Berger thought it was wrong when Democrats gerrymandered, but apparently not when Trump orders it to be done. This is politics at its worst.

It’s important to note that never has the General Assembly voluntarily redrawn congressional districts mid-decade for purely political reasons. It’s always been because of a court order. Today’s announcement is a new low.

The plan by Republican legislative leaders to further rig our state’s already extremely gerrymandered voting maps is a slap in the face of the people of North Carolina.

This cynical ploy is why the public is disgusted with self-interested politicians. There’s no doubt that the extreme gerrymanders being plotted behind closed doors by Senator Berger and Speaker Hall will make a mockery of our elections, undermine the freedom to vote, and especially harm Black voters.

Speaker Hall and Senator Berger should remember that our state’s voting maps don’t belong to them – nor to the politicians they’re bowing to in Washington, D.C. Our districts belong to the people of North Carolina.

In fact, a recent survey conducted by a Republican-leaning polling firm found that 84% of North Carolina voters say it’s never acceptable for politicians to draw districts to help their own party win more seats, no matter the circumstances. That opposition holds across party lines, including 78% of Republicans, 87% of Democrats, and 85% of unaffiliated voters.

The message from North Carolina voters to politicians in Raleigh and Washington is clear: stop gerrymandering our districts.”

Common Cause NC is a nonpartisan grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy. We work to create open, honest and accountable government that serves the public interest; promote equal rights, opportunity and representation for all; and empower all people to make their voices heard in the political process.