Top NC Republican floats redrawing congressional map to help GOP
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Sen. Phil Berger raised possibility of redrawing NC congressional map in 2025.
- Berger denied trading redistricting for Trump endorsement after CBS-17 report.
- New map would mark fifth redraw in six years amid ongoing gerrymandering claims.
North Carolina Senate leader Phil Berger floated the possibility of drawing a new congressional map on Thursday, potentially pulling the state into an escalating national redistricting battle ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Posting on X, Berger accused California Gov. Gavin Newsom of trying to “steal the Republican majority in Congress” by redrawing the state’s maps to offset expected GOP gains in Texas, where lawmakers also recently redistricted.
“If we have to draw one more map this year, we will,” Berger said.
Berger also rebutted claims that the redistricting effort would be part of a deal to secure President Donald Trump’s endorsement in his contentious primary election campaign.
“I’ve never spoken to President Trump about this or an endorsement,” Berger said. “The Democrats are spreading lies to hurt President Trump.”
Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page is seeking to dethrone Berger, who has served as Senate leader since Republicans took the majority in 2011.
Earlier on Thursday, CBS-17 reported that Berger would accept an endorsement from Trump in exchange for the redistricting effort.
Democratic U.S. Rep Deborah Ross, whose district includes Raleigh, responded to the report by saying state Republicans have “stooped to a new low.”
“Accepting a political endorsement in exchange for engaging in partisan gerrymandering is nothing less than blatant, unapologetic corruption,” she said in a statement. “North Carolina Republicans have already rigged our maps in their favor, but they are now planning to go even further simply to appease Donald Trump.”
North Carolina has a chaotic history when it comes to redistricting, with courts frequently striking down legislative and congressional maps as illegal gerrymanders. If lawmakers were to approve a new congressional map this year, it would be the fifth map in just six years.
The current map, which elected 10 Republicans and four Democrats in 2024, is already accused of racial gerrymandering in a federal lawsuit, which is awaiting a ruling.
The 1st Congressional District, represented by Democratic Rep. Don Davis, is the only competitive district in the state and would be the likely target for a redraw.
This story was originally published September 25, 2025 at 5:12 PM.
