North Carolina became the third state to officially redraw its congressional map ahead of the 2026 elections. The new map aims to shift District 1, currently represented by U.S. Rep. Donald Davis (D), toward Republicans. That means the redraw could change the state’s representation in the U.S. House of Representatives from 10 Republicans and four Democrats to 11 Republicans and three Democrats.
North Carolina joins Missouri and Texas, who redrew their congressional district lines earlier this summer. Missouri’s redraw also aims to net one additional Republican district by drawing parts of the Kansas City area into surrounding rural districts. Texas’ redraw aims to net five additional Republican districts. North Carolina’s aims to add one more, bringing the net total of newly enacted Republican districts to seven nationwide.
The state Senate approved the map by a 26-20 vote on Oct. 21, 2025, and the state House followed on Oct. 22 with a 66-48 vote. Redistricting bills in the state do not require gubernatorial approval and are not subject to a veto.
The Daily Tar Heel’s Sarah Clements wrote, “The new map shifts six reliably-Republican counties — Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Dare, Hyde and Pamlico — to historically-Democratic District 1. Additionally, it moves four counties previously in District 1 to safely-Republican District 3, including Greene County, where Davis is from.”
Mid-decade redistricting ahead of the 2026 elections
Congressional district boundaries could change in several more states before 2026.
A new congressional map that could generate four new Democratic districts will appear on the ballot as Proposition 50 in California on Nov. 4, 2025. Voters will decide in that special election whether to approve a constitutional amendment that would allow the legislature’s proposed redraw to take effect through 2030. Approval of that plan would bring the nationwide balance of new congressional districts to a net gain of three for Republicans.
Ohio is required by law to pass a new congressional map because the state constitution places a shorter expiration date on maps that are passed without bipartisan support, as was the case for the state’s current map. If the redistricting commission does not approve a bipartisan map by the end of October, the legislature can pass a map by a simple majority in November. Commission Chair Rep. Brian Stewart (R) said the three districts represented by Democratic U.S. Reps. Marcy Kaptur, Emilia Sykes, and Greg Landsman are “the most hotly contested races generally” and “are probably the seats that are most discussed when we’re talking about whether there’s going to be a deal.”
Utah’s congressional map was struck down as a result of litigation. The legislature and the plaintiffs in the case each submitted their proposed redraws for the judge’s consideration. The Salt Lake Tribune’s Robert Gehrke wrote, “The outcome will determine whether voters will cast their ballots next year in four districts that favor GOP candidates or if there will be at least one district that could be won by a Democrat.”
Several more Democratic- and Republican-led states are reportedly considering mid-decade redistricting:
- The Florida House launched a Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting.
- Indiana Gov. Mike Braun (R) said a special session was likely, though state Senate Republicans announced that “the votes aren’t there for redistricting.”
- Kansas Republicans are gathering signatures for a special session on redistricting.
- Democratic legislative leaders in Maryland have expressed support for redrawing the state’s congressional map.
- Virginia Democrats reportedly plan to pursue a redraw that could create two or three new Democratic districts.