‘Blatant Discrimination’: North Carolina Advances GOP Gerrymander at the Expense of Black Voters

North Carolina moved closer Tuesday to dismantling a historically Black congressional district in a move one of its former representatives described as “blatant discrimination.”

The North Carolina House redistricting committee advanced the map Tuesday in a 10-7 vote, shortly after it passed in a full Senate floor vote. The new map — endorsed by former President Donald Trump as part of his national plan to rig the 2026 election — leaves 12 of 14 districts untouched while drawing many Black residents out of the 1st Congressional District and into the 3rd, including Rep. Don Davis (D-N.C.), a Black Democrat.

Former Rep. Eva Clayton (D-N.C.), who represented the 1st Congressional District from 1992 to 2003, slammed the North Carolina GOP for moving Davis into a neighboring district represented by a Republican — and for making it “almost impossible” for voters in the area to elect a Black representative again.

“If you cannot understand that as being blatant discrimination, then you don’t know what discrimination is,” Clayton told reporters at a Tuesday press conference.

Clayton also blasted Republicans for eliminating what had been a competitive swing district.

“Hopefully the courts will intercede,” she added, hinting at a possible legal challenge to the map.

For a second day in a row, a North Carolina redistricting committee escorted out members of the public chanting that the map was racist. Residents speaking against the measure chanted Tuesday, referring to North Carolina Senate leader Phil Berger (R), “Berger’s maps are racist maps.”

Hundreds of protestors also gathered outside the legislature while lawmakers worked through the committee proceedings and impending floor votes. Demonstrators marched down Fayetteville Street in Raleigh and assembled outside the government building, carrying signs reading “Stop the map grab” and “Voting rights matter.” 

Many of the protestors identified with civil rights groups and local Black-led organizations, who accused the legislature of targeting rural Black voters in the 1st district through the redraw.

State Sen. Ralph Hise (R) — who said he drew the map himself — has denied using racial data in the redraw. State Rep. Pricey Harrison (D) said Tuesday that claim could be true — because it wasn’t necessary.

“I believe it’s possible that they actually didn’t use racial data,” Harrison said. “Because they could look at a map and know that they were carving out the Black Belt.”

U.S. Rep. Alma Adams (D-N.C.) testified at the North Carolina House committee meeting Tuesday, telling Republican lawmakers she was “deeply ashamed” of the legislature for “putting the people of North Carolina last.”

“You’re trying to dismantle the district with the largest record of Black congressional leadership in North Carolina history, and that’s just not right. Your constituents are speaking to you today. I certainly hope you listen.”