Trump Scores Another Win: North Carolina Redistricting Gives GOP Edge for 2026
North Carolina Republicans delivered a major victory for President Donald Trump and the GOP’s 2026 midterm strategy on Wednesday, approving a new congressional map that is all but guaranteed to hand Republicans another seat in the U.S. House.
The redrawn map passed the North Carolina House in a 66-48 vote along party lines, just one day after the state Senate advanced the measure. Under North Carolina law, Democrat Governor Josh Stein cannot veto redistricting bills, making the new map effectively final unless challenged in court.
Currently, the state sends 10 Republicans and 4 Democrats to the U.S. House. With the new map in place, that balance is projected to shift to 11 Republicans and just 3 Democrats, solidifying the GOP’s hold in a critical swing state.
A Trump-Led Push for Republican Strongholds
President Trump has repeatedly called on Republican-led legislatures across the country to take full advantage of their majorities by crafting maps that reflect the political will of their voters. Wednesday’s win in North Carolina follows redistricting victories in Texas and Missouri and is expected to energize Republicans nationwide.
Brenden Jones, the Republican Majority Leader in the North Carolina House, celebrated the map’s passage, declaring, “It’s a fact that we will send one more Republican to Congress from this great state.”
He pushed back on Democrat criticism with blunt words: “You can be mad about redistricting all you want, but you need to look in the mirror and ask yourself, what got us here?”
Impact on Vulnerable Democrats
The redistricting will have the greatest impact on Democratic Rep. Don Davis, whose district will now lean heavily Republican. Previously, the district supported Trump by just 3 points. Under the new map, it supported Trump by 11 points in 2024.
Davis has not ruled out running again but is reportedly eyeing a potential switch to the 3rd District, where Republicans would still be favored.
Democrats Sound the Alarm
State House Democratic Leader Robert Reives painted a dark picture of the day’s events, framing the GOP’s success as a threat to democracy. “I would ask that you mark this day,” Reives said. “Because one day they’re coming to you, they’re going to ask you to do something that you just can’t do.”
But Republicans dismissed the handwringing. Senate leader Phil Berger defended the map, stating it “respects the will of the North Carolina voters who sent President Trump to the White House three times.”
Nationwide Momentum for the GOP
Redistricting battles are unfolding across the country. Florida, Ohio, Indiana, Nebraska, and Louisiana—all Trump states—are expected to follow suit with GOP-favorable maps. Meanwhile, Democrat-controlled states like California, New York, and Illinois are exploring ways to bolster their own congressional power.
In Texas, the GOP’s new map is projected to hand Republicans as many as five new seats. In response, California Governor Gavin Newsom has urged Golden State voters to back a ballot initiative that would redraw their own map to favor Democrats.
With Republicans poised to regain control of the House and strengthen their majority in the Senate, the redistricting efforts spearheaded by President Trump’s allies could be the deciding factor in a GOP landslide in 2026.