Republican lawmakers in North Carolina approved new congressional districts Wednesday to improve GOP chances of maintaining control of the House after the 2026 midterm elections. The new maps could give North Carolina Republicans one additional House seat, The Associated Press reported.
Republican lawmakers in Indiana’s state Senate, however, said they don’t have enough support to pass a new congressional map.
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North Carolina and Indiana were the latest states to consider redrawing congressional maps after President Donald Trump proposed redistricting Texas to help Republicans keep their House majority for the second half of his term. That effort spurred similar attempts by other Republican-run legislatures, as well as a ballot initiative in California aimed at increasing Democratic representation.
NC swing district redrawn
The new North Carolina map changes the boundaries of a swing district currently held by Democratic Rep. Don Davis. The new district lines include areas where more people vote Republican, including the state’s coastal region. Voters from inland areas who might lean Democratic or independent have been moved into a nearby district that’s already controlled by Republicans.
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein is a Democrat. However, state law prohibits governors from vetoing redistricting legislation, so he cannot block the new map.
A Republican lawmaker said the vote ensures more representation for the “true beliefs” of the congressional district’s residents.
“What we are defending here today is not just a map,” state Rep. Brenden Jones said. “It’s the principle that stops the deck from being stacked against us. It’s the principle that our delegation in Congress will advocate for the true beliefs of North Carolinians. It is a fact that we will send one more Republican to Congress from this great state.”
Indiana Republicans stall on mid-decade redistricting
Meanwhile, in Indiana, Republican Senate leaders say they lack the necessary votes for a mid-decade redistricting plan.
Vice President JD Vance visited with state lawmakers twice in Indianapolis to discuss redistricting. Republican state lawmakers also traveled to Washington to meet with federal officials about redistricting.
On Friday, Trump personally got involved and called state Republican lawmakers to approve a new congressional map.
“I told the president I support plans to redistrict,” state Sen. Liz Brown wrote on X. “I urge my colleagues to stand with me as we move ahead to protect our conservative values. Let’s get this done!”
However, Molly Swigart, the spokesperson for state Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray, reportedly said, “The votes aren’t there for redistricting.”
Redistricting sparks national political tensions
Democrats in both Indiana and Washington have accused Republicans of trying to unfairly increase their political power by redrawing the maps.
“Hoosiers have spoken — again and again and again,” Indiana Conservation Voters Executive Director Megan Robertson said. “For more than two months, communities across the state have made it clear that they don’t want lawmakers to reopen the maps.”
