North Carolina and Alabama enacted new congressional and legislative maps as part of the 2020 redistricting cycle.
In Alabama, Gov. Kay Ivey (R) signed proposals for both congressional and legislative maps into law on Nov. 4. The state Senate approved the Senate map on Nov. 1 with a 25-7 vote, and the state House approved it on Nov. 3 with a 76-26 vote. The House approved the House map 68-35 on Nov. 1 and the Senate followed on Nov. 3 with a 22-7 vote. Additionally, Ivey signed new board of education maps into law, which passed the Alabama State Senate and Alabama House of Representatives on Nov. 1 and Nov. 3, respectively.
The House voted 65-38 in favor of the congressional map on Nov. 1 followed by the Senate voting 22-7 on Nov. 3. The Montgomery Advertiser‘s Brian Lyman wrote that under the maps Republicans could maintain control of six of the state’s seven congressional districts, adding, “The new maps do not significantly alter the existing districts, and do not give the GOP many opportunities to extend their majorities further.” The congressional and legislative maps will take effect for Alabama’s 2022 elections.
In North Carolina, the General Assembly enacted congressional and legislative redistricting proposals on Nov. 4. Governors do not have veto power over new maps in North Carolina, so they became law without Gov. Roy Cooper’s (D) signature. The North Carolina House of Representatives passed the House map 67-49 on Nov. 2, and the North Carolina State Senate passed it 25-21 on Nov. 4. The Senate voted 26-19 to approve the Senate map on Nov. 3 and the House voted 65-49 to approve on Nov. 4.
The Senate enacted the congressional map in a 27-22 vote on Nov. 2, and the House followed suit, voting 65-49 on Nov. 4. Rep. Destin Hall (R), chair of the House Redistricting Committee, said redistricting this cycle was “the most transparent process in the history of this state.” Sen. Ralph Hise (R), co-chairman of the Senate Redistricting and Elections Committee, said, “I feel that we have complied with the law.” Democratic members of the legislature criticized the new maps. Rep. Kandie Smith (D) said, “When I look at these congressional maps – they stink. People don’t want gerrymandering. That’s what we have.” Sen. Jay Chaudhuri (D) said, “Is it going to come down to litigation being filed? Yes.” At least one case has been filed challenging the maps.
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