Arguments made in North Carolina redistricting lawsuit
February 28, 2013
By Geoff Pallay
Raleigh, North Carolina: Arguments were made on February 25 in a redistricting trial challenging the congressional and legislative maps in North Carolina.[1]
Democratic voters and advocates who filed the suit are asking a federal three-judge panel to declare the maps unconstitutional. Attorneys argued that GOP legislators illegally packed African-American voters into districts while failing to keep counties whole. GOP attorneys defend the maps which were approved by the United States Department of Justice, as required by the Voting Rights Act. The GOP is asking the panel to throw-out the suit.[1]
Following the 2010 legislative elections, Republicans won control of the State Senate and State House. This gave the GOP complete control over the re-drawing of congressional and legislative maps following the 2010 Census. These maps allowed the GOP to flip three US House seats and solidify gains in the State Legislature.
| Members of the U.S. House from North Carolina -- Partisan Breakdown | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 2012 | After the 2012 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 7 | 4 | |
| Republican Party | 6 | 9 | |
| Total | 13 | 13 | |
| North Carolina State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 5, 2012 | After the 2012 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 19 | 18 | |
| Republican Party | 31 | 32 | |
| Total | 50 | 50 | |
| North Carolina House of Representatives | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 5, 2012 | After the 2012 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 52 | 43 | |
| Republican Party | 67 | 77 | |
| Vacancy | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 120 | 120 | |
See also
|
- Redistricting in North Carolina
- United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina, 2014
- North Carolina State Senate elections, 2014
- North Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2014
Footnotes
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