The North Carolina General Assembly gave final approval on Wednesday to new redistricting maps that are poised to empower the state GOP for years to come.
This marks a significant accomplishment for Republican leaders in this year’s annual session, where they successfully passed laws on abortion, LGBTQ+ and gun rights, voting rights, and education, weakening the powers of Democratic Gov. .
Through party-line votes, lawmakers in the ninth-largest U.S. state established new boundary lines for state House and Senate districts, as well as for the U.S. House delegation.
The redistricting, prompted by court rulings related to the 2022 elections, could result in North Carolina Republicans gaining at least three more seats in the U.S. House after 2024, at the expense of incumbent Democrats. This shift could have implications for Republicans maintaining a House majority on Capitol Hill.
The state House and Senate maps also put Republicans in a favorable position to maintain control of both chambers throughout the decade. Although Republicans have held majorities in both chambers since 2011, this year saw them obtain veto-proof majorities due to the party switch of a House Democrat in April.
The narrow supermajorities resulted in the override of all 19 of Cooper’s vetoes this year.
“We’ve campaigned and run on and speak to our constituents about the things that resonate with us and with our base,” said GOP Senate Minority Whip Jim Perry. “We’re doing exactly what we said we were going to do.”
Cooper vetoed several bills that have now become law, including tighter restrictions on abortions, a ban on gender-affirming medical treatments for youth, limitations on LGBTQ+ instruction in early grades, and the elimination of the requirement for a permit from a county sheriff to purchase a handgun.
Other new laws taking away Cooper’s appointment powers were approved, granting them to the General Assembly and other elected officials. This includes the State Board of Elections, the state Utilities Commission, and the Board of Transportation. The first appointments under this new system were made before the conclusion of the session.
According to Catawba College political science professor Michael Bitzer, legislative Republicans have aimed to exert a strong influence over North Carolina since they gained control in 2011. With veto-proof majorities, they have been able to shape the state significantly.
Cooper’s allies argue that the GOP has prioritized targeting the governor and strengthening the General Assembly at the expense of addressing the needs of a growing state.
Democrats criticize the redistricting maps for disadvantaging minority voters and giving Republicans an unfair advantage in closely contested statewide elections. They contend that the current maps already favor Republican lawmakers, allowing them to advance policies that harm marginalized groups without electoral consequences.
Opponents of the redistricting legislation will have little recourse but to sue, as North Carolina’s constitution exempts it from gubernatorial veto. However, a state Supreme Court ruling in April limited the scope of potential litigation by stating that the constitution imposes no restrictions on drawing lines for partisan gain.
Democratic lawmakers anticipate lawsuits alleging racial bias in the maps. Lawsuits have already been filed regarding the appointments laws and an LGBTQ+ law.
Cooper did celebrate one accomplishment this year — the expansion of Medicaid coverage to hundreds of thousands of low-income adults. Cooper allowed the budget containing this provision, along with other provisions he opposed, to become law without his signature.
Despite the expansion of Medicaid, Cooper’s spokesperson highlighted that this legislative session has had negative impacts on the people of North Carolina in various aspects.
