A federal court ruled unanimously Tuesday the N.C. General Assembly's 2016 congressional maps unconstitutional because of partisan gerrymandering — the first ruling of its kind.
The court demanded the Republican-controlled legislature redraw district lines by Jan. 24.
The ruling marks the first time a federal court has struck down maps because of partisan gerrymandering, as opposed to racial gerrymandering.
In 2017, a federal court had ruled the legislature had unconstitutionally gerrymandered two of the state's 13 congressional districts along racial lines and ordered legislators to redraw maps.
N.C. Rep. David Lewis, R-Harnett, said the General Assembly would use political data to draw district lines during a redistricting committee meeting in February 2016.
“We want to make clear that we … are going to use political data in drawing this map,” Lewis said. “It is to gain partisan advantage on the map. I want that criteria to be clearly stated and understood.”
Common Cause NC then filed a suit arguing the unconstitutionality of partisan gerrymandering.
“This is a true victory for North Carolina voters,” said Bob Phillips, executive director of Common Cause NC, in a statement Tuesday. “At long last, politicians will no longer be allowed to use partisan gerrymandering in order to shield themselves from accountability to the public.”
