North Carolina Republicans have found themselves in a race. Not a race involving Roy Cooper or Hillary Clinton, but a race against the clock.
Earlier this month, a federal court struck down the current congressional map, saying the state’s 1st and 12th Congressional Districts were unfairly packed with black voters.
For context, the 12th District careened from Charlotte to the Triad along Interstate 85, consisting of areas where minority voters reside. The 1st District linked Durham, Rocky Mount and Goldsboro and weaved its way toward the coast.
This whole episode came as a lawsuit filed by voters to review the 2011 congressional plan, which was drawn and passed by Republican legislators. From the voters’ perspectives, these districts were gerrymandered to give Republicans an advantage in congressional races while also unfairly representing minority voters.
As a result of the 2010 census, the Republicans changed the districts to include two new seats, and boundaries were altered to a point where new changes caught the attention of not only concerned citizens, but also federal judges.
Last Friday, state lawmakers finalized new districts with votes in both chambers staying along party lines. With some voters having already sent in absentee ballots for the March 15 primaries, Republicans united to push 13 new districts for judicial approval. Congressional primaries were also moved to June 7, but the presidential primary will remain on its original date.
If enacted, the map would fix concerns regarding the 1st and 12th Districts. The 12th District snake that lingered in the middle of the state would be coiled solely in Charlotte. The 1st, while still containing Durham and Rocky Mount, would barely go past Greenville and contain only a portion of its coastal community. Yet some problems remained unsolved. Many voters would find themselves under new representation. Although this was to be expected, these new districts would still protect the statewide Republican advantage of 10 representatives over three Democrats.
Students registered to vote in Chapel Hill would not have a problem, but those registered back home would likely find themselves with an unknown leader who would have no real threat of competition and probably does not know their new constituents.
If these new districts fail to receive federal judicial approval, both Republicans and Democrats must act responsibly and create districts for the short term. Yet if we truly want competition between candidates, a nonpartisan, independent process must be implemented to encourage better government, better officials and more competition.
