A Congressional map approved by the legislature last week was thrown out and replaced on Wednesday by a panel of Superior Court judges, the News & Observer has reported.
With the move, Lee County now finds itself in the state’s 9th District, along with all of Chatham, Randolph, Moore, Hoke, and Scotland counties, and parts of Harnett, Cumberland and Richmond counties.
Observers seem to be indicating that the district is likely to lean Republican, although News & Observer reporter Will Doran noted on Twitter some factors which could make it potentially competitive under the right conditions:
A district I hadn't considered competitive on first glance, but is according to the numbers we just crunched, is #9 around Fort Bragg. Leans right–but only by about 6-7%, so it could flip in a good year for Dems.
So maybe that makes the map 6-6-2, not 7-6-1 #ncpol #ncga
— Will Doran (@will_doran) February 23, 2022
Randolph and Moore counties are some of the deepest red places you'll find anywhere in the state. But Chatham is growing bigger and bluer by the day, Hoke and Cumberland went for Biden, plus lots of diversity in the district–white, Black, Latino and Native American voters #ncpol
— Will Doran (@will_doran) February 23, 2022
When I wrote about Latino voters before the 2021 redistricting, this part of the state was a clear focus.
4 of the top 6 counties in NC where Hispanic voters have the most influence would be in this new 9th district: Lee, Hoke, Cumberland and Harnett #ncpol pic.twitter.com/COoA3VBr2M
— Will Doran (@will_doran) February 23, 2022
Like last week, the N&O’s report indicates the decision still isn’t final. From the story:
This isn’t necessarily the end, however. Appeals to the Supreme Court are due by the end of the day — which could take the case down the wire, or potentially even delay the 2022 primary elections. Those are currently scheduled for May 17, which means that candidate filing is scheduled to begin in just one day, on Thursday morning, unless the court orders a delay.
Although the court threw out the Congressional maps, maps for the state House and state Senate approved by the legislature last week will be used for the 2022 election.