A North Carolina State Court has Ruled the State Cannot proceed with Next year’s House Primaries under its Current Congressional Map, temporarily setting aside the GOP-Drawn Districts in a Potential boon for Democrats.
A Three-Judge Panel in Wake County preparing to hear a Case over whether the Congressional Districts are Politically Gerrymandered Granted a Motion Monday to put the Map on ice. The Court said Democrats are likely to Prove the Districts Violate the State Constitution, and preparing to Conduct the March 3rd Primary under the Current Lines would be Improper.
Democratic-linked Plaintiffs in the Case are likely to “prevail on the merits of this action by showing beyond a reasonable doubt that the … congressional districts are extreme partisan gerrymanders in violation of the state constitution’s Free Elections Clause,” the Court said.
Because of the GOP Gerrymander, Republicans currently hold 10 of the State’s 13 Congressional Districts.
Democrats celebrated the Court's Action. Marc Elias, the prominent Democratic Election Lawyer working on the Case, called the Ruling "a major victory for the voters of North Carolina," who "will finally be able to vote in constitutional districts for 2020."
Members of the North Carolina GOP Delegation seemed Resigned to the fact that a New Map would likely Dwindle their Numbers. The Surging Growth of the State’s Cities and Suburbs could Complicate the Ability to Create GOP-friendly Seats. Counties like Wake County, Mecklenburg County, and Guilford County, are growing Less and Less Conservative.
A Redrawn Map could Create Member-vs.-Member Races or thrust Members in Safe Seats into Competitive Territory.
But any New Map would be in Effect for Only One Election, as All States with More than One congressional District are Required to Redraw their Maps following the 2020 Census.
If the Map is ultimately Struck Down, it would Mark the Second Time this Decade North Carolina has been Forced to Redraw its Congressional Districts. The State’s First Map, which was Approved by Legislators in 2011, was Struck Down by Courts as an Improper Racial Gerrymander and Redrawn in 2016.
The 2016 Map was Challenged in Federal Court as an Unconstitutional Partisan Gerrymander, but the Supreme Court Ruled Earlier this year that Partisan Gerrymandering Claims have No Business before Federal Courts. That led Democrats seeking to Challenge GOP-Drawn Maps to Re-File Existing Suits in State Courts.
Eric Holder, the Obama-era Attorney General who now Leads the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC), said it’s “an important victory for voters in the state.” His Group is Helping to Pay the Plaintiffs’ Legal Bills through its Nonprofit Arm.
"For nearly a decade, Republicans have forced the people of North Carolina to vote in districts that were manipulated for their own partisan advantage," Holder said. "Now — finally — the era of Republican gerrymandering in the state is coming to an end.”
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
